ESTABLISHED 1924
EDITED BY JACK JOSEPHS
PRICE 10 CENTS
ONLY THEATRICAL NEWSPAPER ON THE PACIFIC COAST
Vol. XI Entered as SeconI Class Matter, April 29, 1927, at Post-
office, Los Angeles, Calif., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Saturday, February 1, 1930
Published Every Saturday at 800-801 Warner Bros. Down-
town Building, 401 West Seventh St., Los Angeles, Calif.
No. 5
LATIN-AMERICANS PROTEST
SPANISH-LANGUAGE PICTURES
VAL VALENTE’S MUSIC
Roof Garden Cafe, San Francisco
COMEDIANS CLOSE
TO BUILD THEATRE
WILL PRESENT
III MASS MEET
Highly optimistic reports were
emanating this week from the
meetings of the Actors’ and Pro-
ducers’ branches of the Academy
of Motion Picture Arts and Sci-
ences concerning the proposed
new contract for picture players,
first news of which was printed
exclusively in Inside Facts last
week.
A subcommittee of the main
committee met again this week, in
a private room at the Roosevelt
Hotel, and with members sworn
to absolute secrecy concerning
some phases of the discussions.
This subcommittee will meet
again next Monday for a final
ironing out of several points, and
then, it is planned, the proposed
new contract will be presented to
a mass meeting of Plollywood ac-
tors to be held in some large hall,
possibly the Hollywood stadium.
This meeting, it was stated, will
be open to all picture actors and
actresses, irrespective of whether
or not they are affiliated with the
Academy, with Equity, or with
any other .organization.
Hours of Work
No definite date has been set
for the meeting, as the framers of
the new document wish to have
it in absolute shape and with ab-
solute accord among themselves
before anything is submitted for
public approval.
To date the main work has been
on minor points, largely of a de-
finitive nature and with a view to
solidifying contractural practices in
Hollywood by specific terms. All
this work, it is said, has gone off
with an unbroken smoothness and
accord.
The main point proposed for the
new contract is a limitation on
the hours of work per week for
freelance players, which, of course,
would regulate the hours of work
for contract players in the main.
Some of the members of the sub-
committee are known to be ad-
verse to such a clause, but it is
the general feeling that the ma-
jority will approve it. Various re-
ports were in circulation that the
majority view was for a 60-hour
work week, but several sources in-
directly intimated that this report
was amiss.
Committee Personnel
The main committee, which met
at dinner in the Roosevelt Hotel a
week ago last Tuesday, had pres-
ent Jack Warner, Irving Thalberg,
Sol Wurtzel, Mike Levee, Fred
Beetson, Conrad Nagel, Lawrence
Grant, Sam Hardy, Mitchell Lewis,
(Continued on Page 2)
Brunks Comedians closed their
season in San Bernardino last
week, most of the company hop-
ping into L. A.
VIRGINIA IN CAST
Virginia Bruce, Paramount con-
tract player, has been assigned the
role of the siren in Charles
“Buddy” Rogers’ Paramount pic-
ture, “Safety in Numbers.” Three
other girls assigned to the picture
are Kathryn Crawford, Carol Lom-
bard and Josephine Dunn.
FILM PREXY HERE
Amedee J. Van Beuren, presi-
dent of the Van Bueren Enter-
prises, arrived this week from New
York with Hiram S. Brown, presi-
dent of the RKO studios. Van
Bueren Enterprises catalogue in-
cludes “Topics of the Day,”
Aesop’s Fables, Smitty and His
Pals, and Sportlights, all distrib-
uted through Patber, and Walter
Futter’s Curiosities distributed
through FBO.
“Montana,” M-G-M starring ve-
hicle for Joan Crawford, has been
changed to “Montana Moon.”
Listed in the spring building
program of Fox West Coast Thea-
tres is a new 2000-seat theatre for
San Luis Obispo. This company
is already interested, with W. B.
Martin, in the Elmo and Obispo
theatres there. Policy will be
talking pictures with the installa-
tion of projecting equipment to
care for Grandeur (large size)
film and building plans will in-
clude facilities for the handling
of stage presentations.
FORESEE BAD
FEELING AS
ONE RESULT
Hollywood's attempt to capi-
talize the great Latin- American
market for talking pictures has
aroused a bitterness among Latin-
Americans which will culminate
this week in a formal protest
filed by official representatives in
Los Angeles of the 21 Spanish-
speaking republics of North and
South America,*
These representatives have got
together and framed a protest to
the talking picture producers of
Hollywood for presentation at an
early date, according to authen-
tic information to Inside Facts.
As a result of Hollywood’s
present trend and decision, it is
stated, there will be aroused “an
inevitable resentment of the Span-
ish-American audiences,” with a
resurrection of “political and so-
cial differences of long standing
and fruitful of acute controversy,”
and which may, if persisted in,
“result in disaster, financial and
artistic” and “create a situation
difficult of solution and perhaps
impossible of reconcilation.”
Influenced by Actors
The trouble arises over the
language used by actors in these
Spanish versions. Influenced, it
is claimed, by the legitimate
school of Spanish actors who use
what, is known as “Castillian
Spanish,” Hollywood has decreed
that Castillian shall be the stan-
dard language for talkies. This
is the official court language of
Spain, used by a small minority
of Spanish people in Spain it-
self and used, it is said, not at
all by Spanish- Americans, offi-
cially or otherwise.
This ruling has the effect not
only of shutting out from em-
ployment a host of Spanish-
American talent speaking in the
idiom used by their peoples for
400 years, but also stirs up pre-
judices that have been rife al-
niost as long, respect for which
is of real importance to Holly-
wood producers, diplomats aver.
Rodriguez Explains
Acting for the large group that
has taken the matter vitally to
heart, Jose Rodriguez, well known
writer and musician associated
with Earle C. Anthony and his
two National Broadcasting sta-
tion KFI and KECA, has framed
a joint letter of protest which is
to be presented to the producers
immediately.
“This matter is not entirely con-
fined to talking pictures,” com-
ments Rodriguez. “Radio is also
concerned, and I feel sure that
(Continued on Page 2)
PAGE TWO
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
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Dolly O’Brien
Now R. K. O. Circuit
IEFII
II TALKIE PROTEST
(Continued from Page 1)
broadcasters will see the wisdom
of giving careful and intelligent
study to this far-reaching situa-
tion.”
The following is the text of
the communication , framed for
signature by the . consuls and other
Spanish- American leaders:
“A question of the utmost im-
portance confronts all Spanish-
speaking workers whose liveli-
hood depends on their employ-
ment by producers of talking pic-
tures in Hollywood.
Denied Employment
“It is reported from many and
authoritative sources, that Holly-
wood producers of Spanish talk-
ing films have decided to employ
only actors and actresses who
speak the official court-language
of Spain, the so-called ‘Castillian
Spanish.’ As a result of this al-
leged decision, thousands of ac-
tors and actresses whose native
speech is not that of the Span-
ish court have been denied em-
ployment.
“Assuming a ground of truth
in these reports, we, the nation-
als of the Spanish-speaking re-
publics of North and South Amer-
ica, desire to present these facts
for the. information and consid-
eration of the Hollywood pro-
ducers of Spanish-speaking films.
“1. Only .a portion of natives
of the Spanish peninsula speak
the so-called Castillian. There
are several distinct languages in
Spain in regions where Castillian
is not the language of the people
— notably Basque, Catalonian, Ga-
licia, Asturias, and even in An-
dalucia, Estremadura and other
parts.
“2. All Spanish-speaking re-
publics of North and South Am-
erica speak and write a gener-
ally uniform language< Castil-
liart in written form, with modi-
BOB MURPHY OPENS A
‘GOOD-EATS’ CHOP HOUSE
Bob Murphy, first of the m. c.’s
and a big name on the Keith-
Orpheum time for years, is open
ing a restaurant under the name
of “Bob Murphy’s Chop House,”
on Robertson Boulevard, midway
between Culver City and Beverly
Hills. Opening was Thursday of
this week., with two sittings, the
first from 5 :30 to 7 :30 p. m., and
the other from 7 :30 on.
Says Bob : “There will be no
pigeon’s eyebrows, no filets of
hummingbird’s tongues, just the
good old substantiate headlined by
that New England favorite of
favorites, Ham and Cabbage.”
Says Bob, furthermore: “To the
professionals we promise you that
good old personal service.”
fications of idiom and pronuncia-
tion.
Other Points
“3. The total population of
Spain is 21,000,000.
“4. The total population of the
Spanish-speaking American re-
publics is 60,000,000.
“5. The chief market for Amer-
ican-made films is in the Span-
ish-American republics.
“There are other points, not
susceptible to munfericaj refer-
ence, which should be consid-
ered by producers who wish to
turn out authentic and acceptable
pictures for the Spanish-Ameri-
can market. These include: The
inevitable resentment of the Span-
ish-American audiences at hear-
ing in talking films nothing but
what is to them a dialect from
the Iberian peninsula; a dialect
furthermore, which brings up po-
litical and social differences of
long standing and fruitful of acute
controversy.
“The producers of Spanish-
speaking films, we urgently re-
commend, should follow in all
cases the same procedure which is
followed in English-speaking talk-
ies. No one uses actors addicted
to Scotch burrs for pictures of
Texas locale; nor the Oxford ac-
cent to portray the speech of Al-
MAJESTIC THEATRE
The first week of “New Moon”
at the Majestic, Louis O. Macloon
and Lillian Albertson’s finest musi-
cal production, broke all records
for this house, topping $18,000. At
no performance during the week
was there any vacant seats, it was
said.
The Mason, with the Chauve-
Souris in its second and last week,
also d i d phenomenal business,
reaching the $18,000 mark. This
house* is now dark with nothing
scheduled for the next several
weeks The Biltmore, now show-
ing a picture, will open in three
weeks with George M. Cohan in
“Gamblers.”
At the Mayan, “Oh, Susanna”
grossed $16,000 and is now in its
final week. Next week, “Bam-
bina,” a locally produced musi-
cal show which clicked resound-
ingly for three weeks in San
Francisco, will be the attraction.
It is featuring Nancy Welford,
Al St. John and Marie Wells.
The El Capitan has been go-
ing strong with “The Boomerang”
getting $5800 last week. It is
now in its closing chapter. Next
Sunday Mary Boland in “Ladies
of the Jury” is the attraction.
At the President, Henry Duffy
and Dale Winter close with “The
Cat and the Canary” next Sat-
urday giving way to Kolb and
Dill who open Sunday in “Give
and Take.” The present show got
$5800 last week. Fine takings for
this house.
The Hollywood Playhouse is
still going very strong with “It
Pays to Advertise” starring Robert
McWade. They box-officed $5700
last week and are in for an in-
definite run.
The Belasco is still playing
“Journey’s End” to fair returns,
Lucile La Verne opened at the
Vine St. last Sunday and reports
have it that she is drawing fine
houses. Last Monday the Holly-
wood Music Box opened with
the Civic Repertory Theatre
showing “And So To Bed.”
FOX BUYS SAN BERDU
THEATRE FROM McKEON
Fox West Coast Theatres has
purchased from the San Bernar-
dino Theatre Holding Company, of
which John McKeon is president,
the Fox Theatre in San Berdu.
The amount involved is said to
approximate $600,000.
Beside a theatre of 2000 seats
capacity and considered the finest
in the Orange Empire, the prop-
erty contains seven stores and
seventeen offices.
Fox West Coast Theatres have
been operating the theatre on a
rental basis since its opening on
Sept. 20.
DENIES MARRIAGE STORY
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30—
Eddie Barton, stage hand at the
Casino, rises to deny a recent
story in Inside Facts to the ef-
fect that he was recently married
to Fay Childs, show girl. Only
an idle rumor without foundation
or truth, says Barton.
abama; nor the Irish brogue for
pictures which depict life in Dor-
setshire. This is elementary com-
mon sense.
Result In Disaster
“No producer of intelligence,
and no producer who wishes to
avoid bankruptcy, would use Cas-
tillian actors in a film portray-
ing Mexican life and intended for
Mexican consumption; nor would
they use Chilean actors who could
not assume the Castillian dialect
for a picture depicting a story in
Burgos and intended for Castil-
lian consumption.
“We feel, therefore, that any
attempt to impose upon the talk-
ing-pictures in Spanish any one
dialect, idiom or language, would
result in disaster, financial and
artistic; cause irreparable mis-
understandings between Ameri-
can producers and Spanish-speak-
ing audiences; work hardships on
actors and actresses of both Span-
ish and Ibero-American origins,
and create a situation difficult of
solution and perhaps impossible
of reconciliation.”
Directoral Deftness
The finesse of directorial touches, which rose to a great
height in the days of the silent pictures, is rapidly gaining
ground in the talkies. During the past week three pictures were
on view which had direction of superior merit in certain of
their sequences. This is noteworthy, as just now are the talk-
ies beginning to show that straightaway direction is inferior
to deft handling of conversation angles, much as the silents
were subject to deft handling of camera angles. The three pic-
tures are “The Rogue Song,” “Anna Christie” and “The Love
Parade.”
Ernst Lubitsch, director of “The Love Parade,’” has brought
a new technique to the talkies, and one which, until overdone,
as it no doubt will be, is extremely engaging. It is used in the
picture several times, but one instance will suffice to show its
substance.
The queen (Jeannette MacDonald )and a courtier (Maurice
Chevalier )are supping together. Lubitsch was faced with the
necessity of getting over a love interest, not too rapid in devel-
opment and not too slow in footage. Showing the ordinary evo-
lution of love would have been a tedious process, so the direc-
tor introduced a sort of Greek chorus, compounded on the one
part of cabinet ministers and on the other of two servants.
Shots of them were played for comedy, keeping the picture
bright, and yet at the same time their comments on what was
happening in the queen’s chambers, switching the scene amid
the three points of the choruses and the room itself, got over
with extreme rapidity the gradually devfeloping love. And all
with laughs. Most excellent talkie finesse.
Lionel Barrymore, director of “The Rogue Song,” likewise
pioneered with angles of sight and sound. In one scene the story
called for Lawrence Tibbett to strangle the heavy, played by
Ulrich Haupt. Such a scene in sight and sound threatened to
be unpleasant. But Barrymore solved the difficulty by having
at one side of the scene a window through which came the
modified light of night. The rest of the scene, the major por-
tion of it, was in darkness. Haupt is in the room, Tibbett en-
ters, seizes him by the throat and they fall together into the
darkness, where the slaying is done. Not at all horrible, as
would have been the case had it been handled otherwise, ’and
a marked tribute to Barrymore’s directorial shrewdness.
No such striking example as either of these was in “Anna
Christie,” but the picture had many touches which showed a
marked subtlety and understanding of the possibilities of the
new medium.
RADIO PICTURES GET
SET FOR BIG START
George K. Spoor and P. J. Ber-
tram, wide screen experts who re-
cently brought the first Spoor
equipment west for use at the Ra-
dio Pictures’ studios, have left
again for New York. The equip-
ment is now being installed at the
wide screen theatre recently built
on the lot.
The 'two experts will return for
start of “Dixianna,” which will be
Radio’s first big screen offering.
This will probably start late in
February, as Bebe Daniels, the
star, has another picture to do
first.
Prospects are that it will be
shot on the new mammoth stage
now under construction at R-K-O.
The first division of the stage is
already completed. There will be
four such divisions, all capable of
handling companies for big screen
shooting.
SERENADE SICK GIRL
As a compliment to Joan Ar-
tell, musician and prima donna
who is convalescing at the French
Hospital from an appendix opera-
tion, Pierre Carta, violinist, who
was former head of music at
Paramount and J. Marc, French
cellist, both of whom are at pres-
ent on the music staff of Fox
Studios, brought their instruments
to the hospital last Sunday eve-
ning and entertained the patients
with a concert, playing from Miss
Artell’s room. The concert lasted
half an hour, the program consist-
ing of both classic and popular
numbers.
PREMIER PARTY
Dedication ceremonies will mark
the formal opening of Premier
Pictures Corporation’s new studio
on Glendale boulevard next week.
Joe Rock, president, will hold a
“house-warming” which will be
attended by more than one hun-
dred motion picture celebrities and
executives, city officials, newspaper
folk and others.
KAYE IN FIFTH WEEK
Eddie Kaye, formerly with the
vaude act of Manning and Kaye,
and who completed the Pan time
just before the sale of the Pan-
tages_ Theatres to Warner Broth-
ers, is now in his fifth week as
master - of - ceremonies at Coffee
Dan’s here.
WILL GO TO S. F.
Bud Murray, who staged the
dances and ensembles of “Oh
Susanna,” operetta now at the
Mayan Theatre, and Bakaleinikoff,
its musical director, will go to San
Francisco with the show for the
opening.
BE TOLD MEETING
(Continued from Page 1)
Robert Edeson, Lloyd Hughes,
Richard Tucker and Rod La
Rocque.
On the subcommittee which met
at the Roosevelt Monday night,
and which is drafting the pre-
liminary report for submission to
Hollywood’s acting professionals
are Irving Thalberg, Mike Levee,
Lawrence Grant, Conrad Nagel,
Sam Hardy, Jean Hersholt and
Wallace Beery.
BERT DE VORE DIES H
STEELTON FROM CANCEI
Bert DeVore, age 46, died Jar
17 at Steelton, Pa., of cancer." De
Vore will be remembered in th
early days of the Mack Sennet
lot, where he was a comic. H
was injured in a fall and force*
to retire as a motion picture actor
He then joined Lew Worth in ;
blackface act and teamed with hin
for 10 years after which he wen
on the road as field man for th
Bert Levey vaudeville circuil
In 1926 he bought the Rainbov
Theatre in Great Falls, Mont., am
the following year opened a vaude
ville exchange in Sioux City
Iowa, and in Omaha, Neb.
During the early part of 192‘
he went on the road for the clul
department of the R-K-O in Chi
cago where he was taken ill h
August and sent to a hospital, h
the Actors’ Fund, for an operetioi
from which he never fully recov
ered. He is survived by a soj
and two brothers. Interment wa
fn Steelton, Pa.
JUDELLS WITH “SUSANNA
Charlie Judells has been signe
as stage director for “Oh, Si
sanna,” now playing at the Maya
and soon to go to San Francisc*
The play was directed for il
opening and first two weeks b
George Rosener, who recently n
signed from the post to return t
picture directing and writing, fc
which he was brought west b
M-G-M.
LOOKING FOR DANCER
The Earle Wallace Studios
Stage Dancing has begun the
lection of a unit of 16 girls to :
pear in motion pictures at one
Hollywood’s leading studios. /
plicants will have to be five fe
four inches high. No beginn*
will be considered. Those who ;
selected will be placed under frc
one to three-year contracts.
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE THREE
NEW LINDEN RADIO CHAIN SOON
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Gene Gary, Dick Jewel and
Eddie Pope
With “Odds and Ends,” RKO This Week
Those bookers who choose the talent for talking pictures would
do well to interview and try out The Harmony Trio, whose picture
appears above. They are a trio of unusual merit, each member
possessing valuable stage experience, having played juvenile roles at
various times in the East and on the Coast. Probably the most
noted critic in the Northwest spoke of them in the highest regard,
saying that this was undoubtedly the best harmony trio he had ever
heard, playing a special compliment to their stage appearance as well
as to their vocal ability. Each member is a soloist.
U STARTS OH 12
Universal has started produc-
tion of 12 two-reel all-dialogue
and sound pictures with foreign
speaking casts.
The pictures will be made in
French, Italian, Spanish and Mex-
ican, and will be short dramatic
sketches and musical comedies fea-
turing foreign stars. Paul Kohner
is supervising the productions.
A musical picture, with singing
in Italian, will feature Renee De
Loiguora, concert pianist. There
will be three musical pictures in
Spanish, in which Andre Segu-
rola, opera singer, will be fea-
tured.
The picture in Mexican will- fea-
ture Tirado, Mexican comedian;
Lupita Tavor; Nancy Torres,
singer and dancer, recently signed
to a long-term contract by Uni-
versal; Delia Megana, and Laura
del Puente.
As a feature, each of the for-
eign language pictures will be in-
troduced by a Universal star,
speaking that particular language;
Laura La Plante, John Boles, Jo-
seph Schildkraut, Glenn Tryon,
Mary Nolan, Hoot Gibson and
Ken Maynard.
All of the series will be filmed
strictly in a foreign language and
played by actors and actresses of
that nationality.
NOW PLAYING SOLID
Solid time, with no layoffs, is
now in effect in Southern Cali-
fornia for Fanchon and Marco
“Ideas.” The “Trees Idea,” which
closed at Loew’s State Thursday,
is the first to get a consecutive
five weeks. The solid time was
obtained by acts opening on
Thursdays at San Diego and
Long Beach, and by adding five
days at the Fox West Coast The-
atre in the latter city. Until the
new arrangement was in effect,
acts lost a day between Los An-
geles and San Diego, where they
opened on Friday, and five days
after doing two ; in Long Beach,
prior to going into Graurnan’s
Egyptian, Hollywood.
SOLOMON’S BALLROOM
TO OPEN AS NITE CLUB
Solomon’s Ballroom on Grand
Avenue changes to a night club
this week under the name of Solo-
mon’s Jungle Room.
The usual penny dance will no
longer be in session, the new pol-
icy including a floor show of six-
teen girls, with Sonny Brooks’
Eleven Music Masters. There will
be four hours of free dancing and
a free buffet lunch served nightly
with a thirty-five cent admission.
Matinee admission will be 25 cents.
Saturday nights will be ’49er
nights, with forty-nine cents ad-
mission.
Solomon is redecorating the ball-
room, following the general design
of the Cocoanut Grove at the Am-
bassador Hotel.
BEN OPPOSITE BEBE
Ben Lyon, Bebe Daniels’
fiancee, has been selected for the
leading masculine role opposite
her in “Smooth as Satin,” at Ra-
dio Pictures’ Studio. It will be di-
rected by George Archainbaud.
Val Valente
And Band Ace
Drawing Group
Acclaimed by San Franciscans
as an ace band, Val Valente and
his organization current^ are one
of the biggest music hits in San
Francisco. Valente, whose picture
appears on the front page of this
issue of Inside Facts, is at the fa-
mous Roof Garden Cafe, an out-
standing spot among the Bay city’s
many night clubs.
As a result of his excellent mu-
sic and attractive personality, Val-
ente’s Band is accredited as being
one of the best draws in night
club circles.
In addition to its popularity at
the Roof Garden itself the band
is a big favorite over KFRC, Val’s
greeting of “This is Val Valente’s
music” being known from San Di-
ego to Vancouver.
Valente expects, to. announce a
recording contract with one of the
major companies in the near, fu-
ture.
SEATTLE PLIED
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
Rumors recently printed in In-
side Facts that Adolph Linden,
former head of the now defunct
American Broadcasting Co., was
about to make a re-entry into the
radio field were apparently near
confirmation this week. Seeming-
ly authentic reports from people
“on the inside” claim that Linden
has promoted sufficient capital in
the East to pay off the majority
of claims against A.B.C. and will
again start his ether activities.
Linden is expected in Seattle
this week where he will begin
preparations for a chain of sta-
tions made up of KJR, Seattle;
KGA, Spokane; KEX, Portland;
KYA, San Francisco; KGER,
Long Beach; a new station at
Agua Caliente to which call letters
have not yet been assigned and
one other in Los Angeles. Ac-
cording to the reports the plans
are to tie KGER in Long Beach
in with the Los Angeles station
to allow the. new network two
broadcasting channels.
Telephone companies handling
transcontinental programs for the
A.B.C. have been paid approxi-
mately ,$90,000, the amount due
them for past services. With this
and other obligations wiped off
Linden bids fair to make a bril-
liant re-entry into the field, but
probably on a much more modi-
fied scale than when he offered
such high-grade programs over
A.B.C. and ran into debts over his
head.
E 1 TALKIE
Aimee Semple McPherson is go-
ing to enter pictures, hallelujah!
The Angelus Pictures, Ltd., is
the name of the new company un-
der which the making of talkies
by the blondined actress-preacher
will operate. J. Roy Stewart and
Victor Emden are to be connected
with the project.
The first feature will be a super-
super, so the Angelus people say,
called “Clay in the Potter’s
Hands, ’’ and is to be a story of
Aimee’s life “with variations,” from
a scenario and dialogue being pre-
pared by Harvey Gates. The parts
of Steve and Rose have not, it is
understood, been cast. Nor is it
mentioned whether a part will be
written in for Ormiston, nor
whether the high-light wdll be a
desert swim.
The feature will not be made
immediately, however. Last week
Aimee appeared at Tec-Art studio
and made some film and voice
tests. She appeared in her well
known white robe with its silver
cross. She went through a series
of gestures and spilled plenty of
dialogue, and did it well, so it is
said.
It is further said that Aimee’s
daughter, Roberta, will have a
prominent part in the cast. '
Before making the feature, how-
ever, Aimee stated that she would
make a couple of short sermon-
ettes which would be presented in
her temple for an audience reac-
tion some time when she was not
present. If they go over, they will
be used in the Temple while
Aimee goes to Palestine.
STEPIN WITH GANG
Stepin Fetchit, colored; com-
edian, singer and dancer, whose
contract with Fox expired about
two months ago by failure to re-
new the option, has been signed
for ,a featured part with the Hal
Roach Gang. Stepin Fetchit was
to do a part in a Columbia picture,
but this was called off. It is
understood billing of the Roach
picture is to read “Our Gang
With Stepin Fetchit.”
W. C. BUYS HOUSE
Fox West Coast Theatres have
purchased the Hippodrome Thea-
tre, Joplin, Mo. The Hippodrome
is the largest theatre in Joplin, a
city of 30,000. The house has a
seating capacity of 1500 seats!
Kathryn Irwin
With “Odds and Ends,” RKO Ihis Week
Miss Irwin is a coloratura soprano with quality based on unlimited
training in the best art schools, coupled with experience gained on
the operate stage in such roles as Inez in “II Travatore,” with the
Boston Opera Company, and with the valuable experience which
Frank Cambria gave her in his “Undersea” ballet which toured the
Publix circuit. No wonder, then, she is acclaimed by the critics
everywhere. Her popularity increases by leaps and bounds from sea-
son to season, and talking motion pictures should take advantage of
the opportunity to record her voice while she is in California on her
present trip.
WARNER BROTHERS BUY
OF W. C. AGAIN RUMORED
A story printed exclusively in
Inside Facts in the issue of Jan-
uary 11 in which it was stated
that Warner Brothers were seek-
ing to purchase the West .Coast
Theatres chain from William Fox
was again to the fore this week
when it was revealed in the re-
ceiver’s suit in New York by Fox’s
attorney, Samuel Untermeyer,
pleading for an extention of time
before Judge Frank J. Coleman,
that Fox had a plan for reorgan-
izing his corporation and raising
enough money to satisfy his cred-
itors.
According to Mrs. Susan Dryden
Kuser’s attorneys, who filed the
action against the film magnate,
it was stated that negotiations
were under way to dispose of the
West Coast Theatre properties for
a sum said to be $20,000,000.
Saw ‘Bat/ He
Is Now Full
Fledged Critic
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Show people are getting a chuckle
still out of an incident of the trial
here of the “Bad Babies” cast, a
trial wffiich resulted in an acquittal
by a jury in seven minutes — but
further raids by the police.
A doughty police officer was on
the stand, so they’re telling it,
and the defense attorney asked
him if he thought himself a com-
petent judge of the drama.
“Sure,” was the answer.
“Did you see ‘The Strange In-
terlude’?” he was asked.
“No.”
“‘The Command to Love’?”
“No.”
“‘Lulu Belle’?”
“No.”
“‘The Road to Rome’?”
“No.” -
“Well, what have you seen?”
“‘The Bat.’ I went to that ’un
’cause it had a detective angle,
see.”
EXECS OF PATHE
E
Pathe has brought its shorts
department executives from the
New York offices to Hollywood,
but the transplanted department
has not yet been straightened
around to definite form.
The transfer was in plans prior
to the recent fire at the Pathe
shooting headquarters in the East,
but the disaster hurried the move.
William Woolfenden, who was
casting director in the New York
office, has charge of the depart-
ment at Pathe now, with Arch
Heath, formerly in charge of shorts
for Universal, also here.
The first of a series of two-
reel music and comedy westerns
which Pathe is to make has al-
ready been started, but no start-
ing date has as yet been set for
the second of the shorts. When
the program gets into full swing,
plans are to make 52 a year at
the rate of one a week.
Various writers are now work-
ing on the forthcoming pictures.
E
PUBLIX PERSONNEL
Jerome Zigmund, former assis-
tant manager at the Publix United
Artists Theatre here, was trans-
ferred this week to the Publix
Avalon Theatre at Grand Junc-
tion, Colorado.
Clayton Long, former treasurer
at the Paramount, replacing Usher.
PERFECTING TRANSFER
The Producers and Technicians
Committee of the Academy of Mo-
tion Picture Arts and Sciences are
to meet Thursday night to per-
fect plans for the taking over of
the Technical Bureau heretofore
run by the Association of Mo-
tion Picture Producers and Dis-
tributors. The Bureau is being
transferred to Academy manage-
ment.
PAGE FOUR
INSIDE FACTS OF STACF Awn sruirw
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
Picture “Reviews ^ Previews ** Shorts
By A. H. FREDERICK
‘THE LOVE PARADE’
Paramount picture
(Reviewed at Paramount)
Borrowing the words of Abra-
ham Lincoln, those who like this
kind of a show will find it just
the kind of a show they like. It
is an operetta, strongly reminis-
cent in everything but plot of
"The Chocolate Soldier,” and laid
in a Graustarkian kingdom. The
Maurice Chevalier personality,
some of the tunes and one sol-
dier ensemble are the outstanding
elements, the story interest being
nothing but a skeleton upon which
to hang the Frenchman’s audience
appeal and a lot of well done
laughs, some of which are very
broad.
In the field of screen musical
operettas it takes good rank, and,
as before indicated, where such
have a drawing power it should
fare nicely. The story is a much
less considerable matter than was
that of “Innocents of Paris” and
the punch of some of Chevalier’s
songs, in that picture outshines
anything musical here, despite that
there are some good tunes.
The picture serves to introduce
Jeannette MacDonald, who brings
from the stage a highly pleasing
personality and an ability to act
which meets all demands of her
role here, and an excellent and
clear-miking singing voice.
The story opens with Chevalier,
an attache at Paris for the court
of the mythical Sylvania, ordered
home for explanation of some of
his amours. Ushered into the
presence of the queen, he brings
his personality into play, and when
she reads the charges against him
she is intrigued to an extent where
she invites him to dinner that
night. This is a matter of great
interest to her cabinet, which long
has urged her to marry but with-
out success.
The attache so impresses her
majesty that he becomes her
prince consort, the wedding cere-
mony showing a reversal of the
usual situation in that the queen
is enjoined to protect and cher-
ish. whereas the bridegroom must
promise to be docile. This scene
is very funny.
After the marriage the prince
consort finds himself a nothing,
she, from her position being the
man of the family, and he having
naught to do but eat and pass the
time in idleness. How he changes
the situation furnishes the balance
of the plot.
Ernst Lubitsch, the director,
has brought a subtle touc hto the
direction of the picture, and ex-
pands the situations gracefully,
easily and for full value. There
are lots of laughs, cropping up
unexpectedly as well as expected-
ly, and, all in all, the direction is
as. well done as has yet been con-
tributed in the operetta division
of the talkies.
EXHIBITORS’ VIEWPOINT:
Chevalier’s draw and the neat
manner in which this picture has
been filmed are sufficient, one or
the other or both, to bring in good
boxoffice to houses where one or
the other or both are factors.
PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT:
Ernst Lubitsch proves himself a
most able master of operetta di-
rection, and the good points of the
film are in no small degree to be
accredited to him.
Victor Schertzinger wrote the
music, and among them has a
number of extremely catchy tunes.
'‘Dream Lover” is outstanding,,
with “Let’s Be Common,” another'
which should find wide use and
popularity. Others, all of them
good, are , “My Love Parade,”
“Paris,” “Anything to Please the
Queen” and “Nobody’s Using It
Now.” Clifford Gray did the
(Continued on Page IS)
‘ANNA CHRISTIE’
M-G-M picture
(Reviewed at Criterion)
Greta Garbo makes her talking
debut in this O’Neill story with
the same vibrant, vivid emotional
power she has shown in the sil-
ents. Her voice is of an alluring
musical quality which throbs easily
and naturally in the more stress-
ful sequences and which never
fails to be of a most pleasing and
impressing timbre. It goes through
a wide range of tones, occasion-
ally hitting very low notes, but
far from unpleasantly. Her por-
VayM of the Anna Christie role is
distinctly a triumph. It is easily
one of the best things yet done in
the talkies, more nearly like the
tense artistry of Jeanne Eagels
than any other actress has
achieved to date. While some of
her adherents may feel a penetra-
tion of the Garbo silent mysticism
a bad thing, doubtlessly she will
win a reception from the others
and from new fans which will far
offset this. In this reviewer’s pre-
diction as to the future, Miss Gar-
bo will be rated among the great
emotional actresses of all time.
Certainly, her portrayal here will
rate a high place among the ten
best performances of 1930.
As in all things Miss Garbo fol-
lows no beaten trend. There is
not readily brought to mind an-
other actress who could have han-
dled this role with so much re-
straint, so much sincerty in avoid-
ing pyrotechnics and yet so im-
pressively.
Her accent — of course the role
is. with a Swedish accent in the
O’Neill play — is not so noticeable
as those of most of Hollywood’s
foreign colony, Baclanova, et al.
Her words are readily followable.
The most “movie” thing in the
picture is the work of Marie
Dressier, playing the role of the
frowzy old prostitute. And be-
cause it is the most “movie” thing,
many of the measure-by-standard
fans will consider that she comes
near stealing the picture. As a
matter of fact she does some tre-
mendously able work, but she mars
this by an insistence upon getting
in some of the Dressier hoke at
points where the best total re-
sults call for quite a different
treatment, lacking sincerity very
badly at these times. But the
“movie fans,” who, so the general
opinion goes, are not educated up
to straight O’Neill, will get their
guffaws from the Dressier antics,
both the consistent and the incon-
sistent ones, and consequently Di-
rector Clarence Brown did well in
letting them stay in.
I he O’Neill play is followed
with faithfulness, with the addition
of the sea vistas and exteriors
which the screen permits. In this
it betters the play, bringing more
clarity to the environment which
changes the girl and which has so
affected the life of the old Swed-
ish seaman.
“Anna Christie” is laid in drab
surroundings and has much drab
about it as compared to the pic-
tures which are usually fed out
from Hollywood, and as a result
the biggest applause for it is to
be expected from those who wel-
come something more than an-
other version of “Burlesque” or
another standardized treatment of
the college boy, the whoopee girl
or the domestic tangle themes.
The discerning will rate it very
high; the undiscerning, allured
thereto by the education the polly-
anna movies have given them, will
express an opinion with reserve or
else will remember the picture for
the belly-laughs they got out of
the Dressier characterization.
EXHIBITORS’ VIEWPOINT:
In any house which draws them
in for artistically done pictures,
Eileen Mercedes
Favorite
Stage and Screen Beauty
New York Morning Telegraph
says:
“Miss Mercedes, tall blonde, un-
usually beautiful, was made to or-
der for pictures. Sings well and
dances charmingly. There are not
too many girls available who can
do all the things she does and do
them well.”
Management
JIMMIE BURNS
EARLE WALLACE
Always Busy Developing Dancing Stars but Never Too Busy
to Create and Produce
Original DANCE ROUTINES and REVUES That Sell
Belmont Theatre Bldg., First and Vermont
Phone Exposition 1196 Los Angeles, Calif.
BU& MURRAY
» ASSOCIATES-
3636 BEVERLY BLVD. — Los Angeles — Tel. DU. 6721
PRACTICAL STAGE TRAINING
STAGE TAP DANCING fin All Its Branches)
BALLE T Technique > By SIGNOR G. V. ROS1
this is a winner. And it is the
same where the Garbo draw is
in effect. In such places it may
be looked to as a record-breaker,
or thereabouts. In other spots
than these the wise exhib will
look this one over before booking.
It’s anything but typical musical
yardage.
PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT:
Clarence Brown has turned out an
artistic triumph here, and the pic-
ture moves along full of the sym-
pathetic treatment he put into it.
The only movieized touch is the
Dressier over-play, and this is,
from a boxoffice standpoint, a
neatly done sop for the less dis-
criminating patrons. Brown did
well in sticking close to the
O’Neill play, and this, with his
able directorial touches and the
Garbo characterization, hold inter-
est up to a splendid point through-
out.
The adaptation was by Frances
Marion, and was discerning in
keeping the salient points to the
fore with atmosphere effective but
sufficiently short not to interrupt
story flow.
CASTING DIRECTORS’
VIEWPOINT: As above re-
marked, Greta Garbo is . to be
rated in all reckonings as to film-
dom’s premier talking actress.
Charles Bickford, of “Dyna-
mite” and “Untamed,” does his
best work to date in the role op-
posite her, putting full life into
the blatant and child-minded Irish-
man of the play. It is difficult to
imagine this role better cast from
among Hollywood’s roster.
George Marion plays his stage
role of the Swedish father of
Anna, and does it for full effec-
tiveness, making the most of each
and every chance. A very good
portrayal.
Marie Dressier, as before re-
marked, could, with somewhat
more sincerity, have made a clas-
sic out of the prostitute role, a
fact which is evidenced by the
many fine sequences she turns in.
But putting her trade-mark into
the picture whenever the chance
offered made the part more Dress-
ier and less O’Neill, which was
not any improvement except for
the guffaw brigade.
lee Phelps does a smooth bar-
tender.
SEITZ TO DIRECT
George B. Seitz has been signed
to direct “Hawk Island,” the New
York stage play, for Radio Pic-
tures. William LeBaron bought
the screen rights to show on his
last trip back to New York. Bert-
ram Milhauser will supervise. Beu-
lah Marie Dix has been assigned
to do the adaptation. The play,
which is a society murder mys-
tery, is understood to have been
bought originally for Richard Dix,
but it is not thought likely he will
do it.
DANCE HALL’
Radio Pictures picture
(Reviewed at RKO Theatre)
Take the sex out pf a Vina
Delmar story and what is left is
not much. And what was left in
Delrriar’s “Dance Hall” when the
Radio Pictures studios made the
necessary courtesies to the censors
was badly marred by very poor
casting of the two principal parts.
Arthur Lake has the male assign-
ment and Olive Borden the fern,
and between them they failed to
hold any interest whatsoever in
their long sequences together.
Lake was up to his old trick of
sacrificing naturalness to his desire
to scintillate exuberantly (which
he also failed to do), and Miss
Borden was far from convincing
as a dance hall jitney dancer.
Nor did a blond wig help her any
either in looks or in character.
There was in this picture a
marvelous opportunity for some
one of Hollywood’s juveniles who
would enter the part with sincerity
and a sympathetic understanding.
1 here were some unusual sym-
pathy scenes, and some touching
ones in the script. But by the
time Arthur Lake did his burlesque
walk, his overdone self-conscious
awkwardness, and his parroty head
slants all sympathy had fled. De-
spite that the heavy (played by
Ralph Emerson) was pictured as a
villain of standardized depravity,
what sympathy there was in the
picture apart from a major share
gleaned by Margaret Seddon was
divided between him and Miss
Borden. This is the second time
within a short period that this
reviewer has seen Arthur Lake in
the final love fadeout, and it just
doesn t click, he having too ir-
radicably stamped himself as a
clown to warrant h i m being
placed in any romantic situation
whatsoever.
But there were bright moments
m the picture, contributed by that
estimable Joseph Cawthorn, who
ea'sily stole the film; and there was
the neatly-done mother role by
Miss Seddon. And also Melville
Brown directed the picture for a
maximum considering the script
and the cast he had to work with.
The story relates how Lake is
a dance hall fan, being drawn
there by his love for dancing and
for Miss Borden. Between them
they dream of becoming profes-
sional dancers, having won prizes
in contests to bolster their assur-
ance.
But there comes a heavy, a flier
who makes love to the girl. This
flier gets a chance to try a non-
stop flight across the country, and
upon the eve of his departure,
Lake discovers that the girl’s love
is for the airman.
The flier flies and crashes, and
Miss Borden faints. Lake takes
her to his home for his mother’s
care during her convalescence.
Then the flier returns and goes
to housekeeping with another girl,
without the formality of marriage.
Lake discovers this and his at-
tempt to keep the knowledge from
Miss Borden causes her to accuse
him of treachery. So Lake goes
to bring the man 'to the girl by
force, _ and gets vastly pommeled
tor his pains. Then the girl dis-
covers it is Lake whom she has
always loved, the dance hall pro-
prietor gives them a professional
dancing contract and that’s it
EXHIBITORS’ VIEWPOINT:
Lukewarm but adequate for a pro-
grammer.
PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT:
Melville Brown’s direction is bet-
ter than the total of the product
turned out. He did much to over-
come the handicaps under which
he labored, and, with better leads
(Continued on Page 15)
THE ROGUE SONG’
M-G-M picture
(Reviewed at Chinese)
Lawrence Tibbett brings to the
talking screen a singing voice
which without question is the
most splendid yet heard in this
new medium. He fills the house
with an inspiring baritone which
rings with a clarity and fullness
that thrill to a point where the
audience, shadow only though the
singer be, cannot help but ap-
plaud. It’s that kind of singing.
.1 ibbett tops the male singers
to date in this respect. And
there is another in which he also
bids for top honors, and that is as
an actor-singer. He goes into the
requirements of his role with a
full fire of sincerity and never is
he so content to rest upon his
laurels as a singer that he tosses
off the histrionic demands care-
lessly. Whether he will be an-
other great lover of the screen re-
mains to be seen, but certainly it
would be a tremendous surprise
if he fails to become very big
boxoffice.
The picture is distinctly a new
type of screen entertainment. The
numbers are never of the “popu-
lar” variety, coming closer, as de-
livered, to opera than to musical
comedy. The story lays claim
to being one which would be ade-
quate without the music, and its
director, Lionel Barrymore, has
given a full meed of consideration
to seeing that it moves along with
due speed and interestingly.
1 ibbett is the whole picture, his
acting over-topping by far any-
thing turned in by the rest of the
cast, and his voice topping any-
thing yet done in the talkies.
The story is laid in Russia, with
Tibbett a leader of a band of
Russian Robin Hoods. In his pil-
fering meanderings he meets a
princess (Catherine Dale Owen),
who is vastly fascinated by the
rogue. So much is she intrigued
that she warns him of an impend-
ing danger when the Cossacks
close in on him, and thus insures
his escape.
Returning to his home the
rogue discovers that his sister has
been betrayed by Prince Serge,
and,, his sister having committed
suicide, he sets out to kill the
noble. He trails him to a big
reception and there discovers that
the Prince is the brother of the
Princess whom he has now learned
to love. Nevertheless he carries
through his revenge, strangling
the Prince and being discovered
after the deed by the Princess.
She expresses amazement that he
a commoner, should have dared
kill a noble for any reason what-
soever. The rogue, angered by
this insult to his dead sister, kid-
naps the girl and carries her to-
ward a mountain fastness, making
her wait upon him in all menial
chores.
. Comes a storm, and with it a
night of love. But meantime the
Princess is plotting to betray him
to _ the Cossacks, and succeeds in
doing so. With her consent, he is
taken to a castle and severely
flogged, but up to the moment
when he faints under the pain he '
keeps singing his songs, ad-
dressed to the Princess. At last
she can stand it no longer and
makes them carry the unconscious
man to her boudoir, where he
awakens in her arms.
.Then comes the ending, with
im riding away with the words
that some day the fictitious bar-
riers of rank which separate them
may be swept aside and he will
return. As the story opens in
tyiU one may happily conjecture
it one cares to, that the bolsheviks
brought this to pass.
19 SEASON PRICES
SO0 n CAST 1 T P **„ „ W so e 7s c f,oo
** K.». I*1ac Lean as frayjuniperoserra M
ev&YAFTaiixm-excepTMomAv&s- wea/MosAj*evt tt‘ 5
MARCAL
Hollywood Blvd. at Gower
HO. 8069
MARQUIS
Melrose at Doheny Dr.
OX. 2208
SUN., MON., TUES., WED.,
February 2-3-4 6’
“LITTLE JOHNNY JONES”
With EDDIE BUZZELL
THURS., FRI., SAT., FEB. 6-7-8
PAULINE FREDERICK in
“EVIDENCE”
SUN., MON., FEE 2-3
JOAN CRAWFORD in
“THE UNTAMED”
4 DAYS STARTING FEB 4
JOHN BARRYMORE in
“GENERAL CRACK”
SAT. ONLY, FEB 6
ERNEST TORRENCE in
“THE UNHOLY NIGHT"
and
l- 6 ACTS OF RKO VAUDEVILLE
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE FIVE
3 PICTURE HOUSE RECORDS FALL
“I DO NOT WANT A CENT”
The way of justice is a straight road which any man’s eye may follow, but the
intricacies of legal twists and turns is another matter, and one which to the layman
is onerously confusing.
A case in point has been reviyed during the past week as one big topic of conver-
sation in Los Angeles and Hollywood. Of course we refer to the case of the State of
California vs. Alexander Pantages, a case which, filed upon the complaint of Aileen
Pringle, resulted in a long penitentiary sentence for the multi-millionaire showman.
Public memory is short, but it should not be so short as to forget that the turning
point, apparently, came when Miss Pringle announced through the public prints that:
"1 do not want a cent for myself; all I want is to see him punished for what he did to me.”
This writer and various other members of the staff of Inside Facts talked to
many people about the Pantages case at the time Miss Pringle made her sensational
charges. On the first flash of the news the case stood:
Miss Pringle charged she had been wantonly and inexcusably attacked by
Alexander Pantages ;
Mr. Pantages counter-charged that the whole thing was a frame-up.
The public’s opinion, insofar as Inside Facts could ascertain, hovered in the balance
between believing the one or the other story. Pantages had just culminated a lifetime
of endeavor and business acumen by disposing of the bulk of his vaudeville houses
for an amount reported to be up in the many millions of dollars. Certainly a fair tar-
get for anyone who was seeking his or her financial advancement and was not overly
scrupulous about how it was done. Stories circulated, true or otherwise, of strange
coincidences which could not have been better set to entrap the theatrical magnate.
Public opinion hung in the balance, and not even the most zealously inclined law-
yer, dry-as-dust in the search for precedents and legal sanctimony, but will admit that
the public opinion, in cases played large in the press, has quite a bit to do with the
outcome of certain cases.
Then came Miss Pringle’s statement :
"l do not want a cent for myself; all I ivant is to see him punished for what he did to me.”
That statement swung the balance of public opinion. Certainly, it was reasoned,
charges of a frame-up fall of their own weight if the person charged so to be inclined
refuses absolutely to consider any personal financial gain through the happening. And,
with the case standing thus, Alexander Pantages was tried and convicted.
Now, we suppose, “new evidence,” like everything else in law, is given a technical
and precedental interpretation. But reckoning only in the realms of justice and not in
those of law, it seems vastly unfair that, with this big fact — perhaps the deciding fact
—changed, Pantages should not have a new trial. Without doubting Miss Pringle’s
statement that she has been persuaded to the action to sue for an amount for which
many men would risk their lives many times over, and an amount. which has been an
alchemy in which to dissolve human nature for generatipns, still the fact remains that
this girl who “didn’t want a cent” for. herself is now asking $1,000,000, and also that
a friend of hers is suing Pantages for another $500,000.
Now there were certain things in the beginning against Pantages, and those things
remain .though not of legal admissibility as weighing factors. For generations there
has been a feeling among lay people which easily fires into wrath against show peo-
ple. And, again, Pantages As a multi-millionaire, albeit not of Los Angeles select group
of millionaires and multi-millionaires. But even with these facts against him, Inside
Facts doubts if there is a jury obtainable in the County of Los Angeles or in the State
of California which would find him guilty if the defense, upon a reopened case, were
allowed to ask :
“Miss Pringle, you said at one time that you did not want a cent for yourself, did
you not?”
“Yes.”
“You said so many times, did you not?”
“Yes.”
“And now you are suing him for $1,000,000, are you not?'
“Yes.”
Legally this fact may be incompetent, irrelevant and immaterial, we do not know.
But in the realms of justice it is certainly most pertinent, and in our opinion, and also
in the opinions of all to whom we have talked, certainly it not only justifies but actu-
ally calls upon the district attorney’s office to permit it to take its rightful place in
the panorama of the Pantages case. The verdict might be the same, of this we again
do not know, but we do know that there was a mighty weight added by that “I do
not want a cent for myself,” and a conviction secured when this weight was pressing
down will always leave a mighty question in the minds of Californians as to whether
or not a most grave injustice was done when the weighty fact was so soon to be
diametrically reversed with a declaration, “I want $1,000,000 for myself.”
KMf REVUE OF 35
PEOPLE REHEARS1G
FOR L ft. OPEN!
Roger Grey, late of the “Oh,
Susanna” cast, is co-producing a
revue for a Los Angeles or Hol-
lywood opening. Date is tenta-
tively set for about three weeks
but the house has not yet been
selected.
Cast, which is now rehearsing
at the Knights of Columbus hall
in Hollywood, includes Charles
McNaughton, who divided, top
honors with Beryl Mercer in U.
A.’s “Three Live Ghosts,” Pert
Kelton, the Aber Twins and Roger
Grey, the latter also being stage
director. A report was that nego-
tiations were under way to have
Leatrice Joy also in the cast, but
whether this had or had not come
to any definite result was not
stated.
Total of people in the show
will be between 30 and 35.
Walter Wills of the Wills-Cun-
ningham School of Dancing, is
to furnish the chorus ensemble,
which will be between 12 and 14
dancing girls, no boys.
New Reason
For Duck-Out
On Egan Show
Some funny reasons are given
for various crimes of commission
or omission in show business but
the hottest alibi for ducking out
on a production was presented to
Tom Kress, manager of the Egan
I heatre, by William Thornton
who had engaged the theatre . to
make a , production of the Irish
comedy “Playboy of the Western
World.”
The cast had been tentatively
engaged and rehearsals were
scheduled when Thornton got
cold feet and in order to bolster
his courage submitted the man-
uscript of the play, which is now
having a vogue in New York, to
some Catholic priests to ascer-
tain if there w;as anything ob-
jectionable therein to the adher-
ents of that faith. The priest,
after a careful perusal assured
Thornton that he saw no rea-
son why the play should not be
presented.
Thornton then sought the ad-
vice of one Frane Williams, said
to be a producer of semi-pro and
amateur plays in the small towns.
Frane advised him not to do the
piece because — and here it. comes:
— “Irish people would object to
seeing an Irish play performed
by American actors.”
When Thornton reneged on his
agreement with Kress, Tom ob-
served: “I never thought of that
one before. Perhaps that’s the
reason the Engilsh objected so
strenuously to American actors
playing Shakespeare.’’
IN TIFFANY PICTURE
Pauline Garon ha,s been signed
for a role in “Sunny Skies” at
Tiffany.
REYNOLDS BACK
Harrington Reynolds is back in
Plollywood from a trip which in-
cluded India in its itinerary.
NEW HAINES TITLE
William Haines' M-G-M pic-
ture shot under the title of “Fresh
From College” will be released as
“The Girl Said No.”
TO GO IN “IDEA”
Born and Lawrence are to go
into Fanchon and Marco’s "Idea
In Green.”
Dress Your Theatre or Your Act With
The Finest and Most Artistic
Drop Curtain*
Picture Screen*
Presentations
Cydoramas
Unusual
Fabric*
New and
Unique
Scenic Effects
For Stages
and
Vaudeville
Acte
DESIGNED - RENTED - PRODUCED
By the Largest and Best Staff of Scenic Artists
In America’s Most Beautiful Studio
LOS ANGELES SCENIC STUDIOS, Inc.
1215 Bates Ave.. at Fountain. Near Sunset Hollywood, California Phono OL. 2914
LAWRENCE TIBBETT,
GRETA GARBO 10
mm oo TRICK
Three picture house records
went down to defeat last week
and this.
Lawrence Tibbett, singing hero
of M-G-M’s “The Rogue Song"
drew in $37,243 to the Chinese
with the first week of “the pic-
ture which will make motion pic-
ture history.” A record.
Greta Garbo’s first talkie,
“Anna Christie” opened to sensa-
tional business at the Criterion,
the first two days being the big-
gest in the history of the house
and more big ones following for
a week’s house record. It looked
like a $36,000 to $40,000 week.
Will Rogers' Fox picture, “They
Had to See Paris” was- the third
in the trio of record breakers,
taking a $13,060 gross for the
Boulevard, where the customary
intake is around $6500 to $7500.
The Parisian Revue was in sup-
port.
All of these were Fox houses,
but Paramount also had cause for
rejoicing in the second Maurice
Chevalier picture, “The Love Pa-
rade.” This picture packed ’em
in to. the tune of $41,000, which
is within a couple of thousand
of the house record, the personal
appearance week of A1 Jolson be-
ing excepted. This picture will
be held over for three weeks.
Warners Drop
“Show of Shows” took a big
drop at the Warner Brothers'
Downtown Theatre, doing $21,200
in its third week, after a good
second week of $31,700.
Second week of Marilyn Mil-
ler in “Sally” at the Warner Bro-
thers’ Hollywood house was also
down at $23,700, following an
opening week of $31,100.
Following up a good $11,239
week of Gloria Swanson’s U. A.
picture, “Th,e Treispalsser,” the
Egyptian Theatre in Hollywood
topped it on the following stanza
by having George Bancroft’s Par-
amount picture, “The Mighty” to
a boxoffice tune of $12,800. This
is the two best consecutive weeks
this house has had for some time.
“Rio Rita” Radio Pictures, did
a good tenth week at the Carthay
Circle, taking $9453, a pickup of
about a thousand over the pre-
vious week. Announcement of
closing date caused the spurt.
“Devil May Care” opened Wed
nesday.
Other Figures
“Hot For Paris” Fox, finished
its run to the moderate boxoffice
of $5910 at the Criterion, being
followed by the Garbo taikie.
Lenore Ulric in the Fox picture
“South Sea Rose” dropped some-
what under the William Haines
M-G-M picture of the previous
period. Gross for “South Sea
Rose’’ was $30,871. It was sup-
ported by the Fanchon and Marco
“Peasant Idea.”
Norma Talmadge’s first talkie,
“New York Nights” did only the
fair opening week’s figure of $23,-
200 at the United Artists The-
atre, compared to pictures which
have recently played there. It
gives way Saturday to “The
Locked Door,” which is booked
in for one week only.
“Hit the Deck,” Radio Pictures
offering, held up to the neat in-
take of $12,500 in its fifth week.
The other RRO house, the
RKO Theatre, went down to the
very poor figure of $15,500 with
RKO’s “Dance Hall,” of which
Arthur Lake and Olive Borden
bead the cast, and with a vaude
bill.
MAY DO “GLITTERS”
“All That Glitters” is under
consideration by Belasco and Cur-
ran for presentation in their re-
spective houses here and in San
Francisco. It is not yet set but
decision, yes or no, is expected to
be made this week.
EDDIE KAYE
NOW
Master of Ceremonies
AT
COFFEE DAN’S
Los Angeles
Who Is This Guy Frank Shaw?/
PAGE SIX
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
ACTS
S(SIP(§QVQ,
Legitimate
One Year
Published Every Saturday
$4.00 Foreign
$5.00
Advertising Rates on Application
As a bi-monthly publication : Entered as Second Class Matter, No-
vember 17, 1924, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under
the Act of March 3, 1879.
As a weekly publication: Entered as Second Class Matter, April
29, 1927, at the Post Office at Los Angeles, California, under the Act
of March 3, 1879.
Published by
Inside Facts Publishing Company, Inc.
800-801 Warner Bros. Downtown Bldg., Los Angeles, Calif.
Telephone TUcker 7832
JACK JOSEPHS
ARTHUR WM. GREEN
WILLIAM C. OWENS -
- - - President and Editor
Vice Pres, and Counsel
- Secretary and General Manager
Vol. XI
Saturday, February 1, 1930
No. 5
The actor is a patient individual, so patient indeed that it
ceases to be a virtue.
Let the city lawmakers or the city law-enforcers do dirt
to a retail merchant and up rise the retail merchants to de
mand justice, forming organizations for the purpose.
Let the realtors be touched, or the store owners ,or the
Main Street peddlers, or what have you, and up to the city
hall parade delegations and representatives telling their vot-
ing strength; and things go better for them.
But, perhaps from his itinerant life of past times, the
actor has always been aloof from politics, casting his vote,
when he did vote, individually and taking' what the law-
makers and the law-enforcers handed him without so much
as a feeble protest.
And what has the result been? Why, just what was to
be expected, to-wit, that of all classes "of people the actor
gets least consideration of his legal rights.
Suppose that a publishing house publishes a book which
is barred from circulation for alleged indecency. Do the po-
lice go down and arrest the linotype operators, the make-
up men and the pressmen? They do not. Not by a jugful!
Suppose an artist paints a pictures which the purists ob
ject to, do the police run around town and find all of the
models who have posed for it and cart them off to jail? They
do not.
Suppose a minister chooses to read from the Bible the
story of Lot and his daughters, or of Jacob and his wife’s
handmaiden, or of Sampson and Delilah, do the police cart
the choir and the altar-boys off to prison? They do not.
Or if some multi-millionaire chooses to steal a few mil
lion dollars’ worth of oil wells from the government, do the
police arrest all the station men who dispense the oil? Of
course not.
Carry on the examples as you will, you will find that the
actors are the only hired employes in the world who are ar-
rested for the alleged legal infractions of the employer.
What an absurd thing it is that actors are forced to he
the judges of plays which later on may result in jury deci-
sions of a hair’s breadth. Consider “Bad Babies.” Arrested
in San Francisco, the play is acquitted by a jury in seven
minutes. Another jury might have found it guilty in ' seven
minutes. Or another might have found it guilty in seven
hours, or have acquitted it in seven hours — and the actor is
supposed to be some kind of a prophet whereby the burden
is upon him to fortell just what will happen long before the
show is even produced !
Consider the thing a moment. It is hardly safe for an
actor to sign a contract to appear in any of Shakespeare’s
plays. If the producer decides to present them exactly as
written ,why then off goes the actor to jail. And “Anna
Christie, why an actor puts his liberty on the toss of a
card when he signs for that. Or “Strange Interlude,” or
The Front Page,” or “The Captive,” or any one of a hun-
dred others. So there stands the actor, if he doesn’t sign he
may lose a part in a play which will be a sensation and
unmolested p if he does sign he may go to jail. And he, a
hired hand, is forced to be the judge of this. Brothers, there
is no other class of people in the world who would stand for
such an outrageous infliction of the the laws except the
Thespians.
Recently Inside Facts, carried an exclusive story of an
actors political organization which was being formed, with
Charles Miller, Coast Equity representative, as one of the
prime movers. Such an organization is a most worthy move
and one which every actor should support. For let it be
known far and wide that when the actors’ voting power is
congealed into a solid weight, as is the case with other
groups of men and women, then the actor will no longer be
the poo-bah of the law but will have equal rights with other
men, including that of not being hauled off to jail on the
whim of each and every reformer who has a little political
drag or a case of indigestion.
THE NEW MOON’
MAJESTIC THEATRE
LOS ANGELES
(Reviewed Jan, 22)
Lillian Albertson and Louis O.
Macloon have stepped right out
after another record. With this
musical romance of the Spanish
Mane by Oscar Hammerstein II,
Frank Mandel and Laurence
Schwab, with music by Sigmund
Romberg, they have topped their
“Desert Song” which, as everyone
knows was the only money-mak-
ing musical to have played the
coast in years without number.
Seemingly, anything “New
Moon” hasn’t got, it doesn’t need,
and if the customers don’f fall
over themselves to buy it they de-
serve the punishment of missing
this most tuneful, colorful and ex-
cellently cast light opera.
The story is based on an inci-
dent that happened during the
French Revolution in one of the
French colonies. The plot is in-
finitely better than is either found
or expected in most musical shows.
It hangs together, is slightly melo-
dramatic and entirely probable
withal, having plenty of laughs,
scenic effects of unusual grandeur
and proper costuming. Principally
the latter, for nudity and sugges-
tion are conspicuously absent.
And while on the subject, the
chorus is deserving of more than
passing mention. It is one of the
best . both vocally and terpsi-
chorically seen here in — well,
since the “Desert Song” anyway.
The male chorus in the “Strong-
hearted Men” number are inspir-
ing, . and throughout their voices
dominate the robust character of
the situations in a fine manner.
The girls too are extraordinarily
well trained and they actually
dance. The dancing of both boys
and girls is of the sort that was
fast becoming a lost art among
choruses. The intricate after-beat
steps and machine-like movements
together with the smooth manner
in which the numbers were done
was a treat. The credit goes to
George Cunningham.
The honors of the show go to
Charles Boyle in the role of a
comedy bond servant. This nice
looking young lad, without seem-
ing to try, kept his audience con-
vulsed with a style of work all
his own. He doesn’t mug broad-
ly, his slapstick is delicately per-
formed, his lines come over strict-
ly j in character. In our opinion,
he’s the comedy find of the year.
The acting of John Merkyl was
also something to brag about. He
gave a very striking performance
in the heavy role which he played
with a swagger typical of the pe-
riod. Garry Breckner, too, found
a more pleasing part than that in
which he was recently seen. If
for nothing else, his “Interrupted
Love Song” specialty would give
him high rating in any man’s
how.
Perry Askam was still Perry
Askam. This lad has a splendid
voice and a fine figure with an
ingratiating personality that is
favored by the .women. He looks
imposing and sings very well, but
when the role calls for a bit of
acting Perry is nowhere around.
In one, however, singing “Lover,
Come Back To Me” as a solo, he
reached his highest point of excel-
lence, but that was enough to
satisfy anyone for one night.
Josephine Houston, the new
prima donna, was charming. She
is the most pleasing sight the most
critical bald head could ask. She
has grace and verve. Her voice,
while thin, was particularly true
and sufficiently well-timbred to be
thoroughly satisfying. Myrtis Crin-
ley as the maid, had the soubrette
role. This young lady is full of
TEL-A-PHONEY
Irj) JAMES MADISON
SIGN OPERA SINGER
Grace Moore, soprano with the
Metropolitan Opera Company, has
been signed by M-G-M. Getting
her signature followed signing on
a long-term contract of Lawrence
Tibbett, lead of “The Rogue’s
Song,” now showing at the Chi-
nese, and public reaction show-
ing a warm reception to operatic
screen signing.
REPORT FIG. LEASE
It is reported that Marjorie
Rambeau and Hampton Del Ruth
have taken a lease on the Fig-
ueroa Playhouse where they are
to present a series of plays fea-
turing Miss Rambeau. Miss Ram-
beau recently concluded a very
successful engagement at the Vine
Street Theatre in Hollywood
where she appeared in three plays.
Hello, Charles Lindbergh.
Hello, James Madison.
What’s new?
We are deserting the eagle
for the stork.
Hello, A1 Smith.
Hello, James Madison.
What do you think of an
individual who believes this
country should be bone dry?
Pie has mental dandruff.
Hello, Sid Marion.
Hello, James Madison.
How is it that France won
the navy parley?
They know how to parley
vous.
Hello, Lon Chaney.
Hello, James Madison.
Has increased salary induced
you to finally desert silent
pictures?
Money talks.
Hello, Pat Dowling.
Hello, James Madison.
My brains are very mellow.
No wonder, they’ve been
'aged in wood.
Hello, Nat Carr.
Hello, James Madison.
Why is almond brittle like
the Napa Asylum?
Both are chock full of nuts.
Hello, George Yeoman.
Plello, James Madison.
Why are old maids refrain-
ing from using cold cream?
They do not care
chapless winter.
for
Hello, Will Rogers.
Hello, James Madison.
What’s the latest news about
the arms conference?
Ireland, Switzerland and
Jerusalem have agreed to sink
their navies.
Hello, Congressman Oscar
de Priest.
Hello, James Madison.
President Hoover declares
that all laws should be obeyed.
Then why not also observe
the fourteenth and fifteenth
amendments?
Hello, Mary Boland.
Plello, James Madison.
What is your description of
Watts?
A town where they
wave at passing trains.
still
B.B.B. Says:
The CAMPUS TRIO
were down — real good
music. PETER B. KYNE
spent an enjoyable eve-
ning.
• • ••
P. S. — The CELLAR is at
Cosmo Street and Hollywood
Boulevard . . . between Vine
and Cahuenga . . . the phone
numbers are GRanite 8 3 8 2
and HOllywood 9 159 . . .
parking is free at the lot
across from the CELLAR . . .
the CHRYSLER and SAM-
SON’S are there.
Thank You.
giggle-getting talent. Her eccen-
tricities won her a full mead of
deserving congratulations. She
dances very well and sings not
badly,
David Reese also deserves much
praise for his singing as well as
for his acting. He was a decided
asset to the cast. Others who had
parts were Howard Nugent, Edd
Russell, John Wagner, Dee Lo-
retta, Violette Derbeck, Jerry Jar-
tette, Wally Phelps and William
Wagner.
° f the musical number that
scored heavily the outstanding hits
were “Marianne,” “The Girl on
the Prow, Gorgeous Alexander,”
h Int f3 U K ed „ Love Son s’’ “Stout-
hearted Men,” “One Kiss,” “Lover
Come Back To Me,” “Ladies of
the Jury" and “Wanting You”
The direction of Miss Albertson
was exceptionally well done The
music under the baton of Cecil
Stewart was one of the features of
show.
Jacobs.
IS NORMA’S DADDY
George Irving has been cast as
Norma Shearer’s father in M-G-
M’s picturization of “Divorcee,”
which Robert Z. Leonard is di-
recting.
LETTERS
There are letters at the Los
Angeles office of INSIDE
FACTS for the following :
BIDMEAD Bros.
BUCK, Guy
COLLINS, Harry
EDWARDS, Chas. H.
GILLETTE, Bobby
MacDONALD, E. Jeanne
MAHRA The Great
MASON, Marvel
PARSONS, Ruth
TAYLOR, Slade (Mike)
TIFFANY, Owen
HERBERTS
Good Food With Courtesy
OPEN ALL NIGHT
745-749 South Hill Street Los Angeles
Bachelor Hotel & Grill
151-159 Powell Street San Francisco
ALLES
SHOW
PRINT
ME. 4872—224 E. 4th St., Los Angeles— ME. 4873
WHEN IN TIJUANA
Visit the Rendezvous of the Profession
ALEX BAR and
RESTAURANT
Opposite the Foreign Club
FRENCH AND ITALIAN CUISINE PAR EXCELLENCE
FINEST IMPORTED LIQUORS AND WINES
Proprietors Alex Cardini and Johnnie Montepagno
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE SEVEN
VANCOUVER, B. C.
A. K. MacMartin
REPRESENTATIVE
901 Bekins Bldg.
^NORTHWEST
JEAN ARMAND DISTRICT MANAGER
WASHINGTON :: OREGON :: IDAHO ::
MONTANA
SEATTLE
Joseph D. Roberts
REPRESENTATIVE
1118 Northern Life Tower
THEME GROSSES
ACT IN PAST WKS,
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — The past
six or eight weeks in this town
have witnessed a rapidly changing
barometer of theatre grosses.
Many stellar attractions have been
offered the public, of which sev-
eral took a husky wallop from the
frozen fist of old king winter.
Throughout the period, of all
the houses, possibly John Ham-
rick’s two 800-seaters, the Music Box
and Blfle Mouse, have best weath-
ered the storm. Opening War-
ner Bros’, all-color classic, “Show
of Shows,” on Xmas day, the Mu-
sic Box continued to stand ’em on
the sidewalk for three consecutive
weeks. It must be granted, though,
that the intake would have taken a
25 per cent tilt, had not a blanket
of snow which later froze solidly
over all streets and sidewalks
throughout the city, fallen. Fol-
lowing this at the Music Box,
came John Barrymore’s first all-
talker, “General Crack,” currently
in and holding up well, consider-
ing the elements. At the Blue
Mouse across the way, the popular
impresario has showed, successive-
ly, “Tiger Rose,” “Wall Street,”
“Footlights and Fools,” “The Lost
Zeppelin” and “The Aviator,”
mediocre attractions, but the popu-
larity of the house kept them
coming.
Liberty Opens
The greatest furore during this
period was caused by the reopen-
ing of the old Liberty Theatre on
First avenue. The Liberty was
included in the deal when Jensen
& Von Herberg sold to North
American which was, in turn, later
absorbed by West Coast. Through
(Continued on Page 9)
VANCOUVER
By A. K. MacMARTIN
Practically all down town houses
in this city are now wired. The
last two to go talkie being the
Globe, on Granville street, oper-
ated by Bill Brown, and the
Royal on Hastings, which is con-
trolled by W. P. Nichols. The
last named operator has also
taken over a small house on Gran-
ville street south, called the Fair-
view. He is having it enlarged, a
marquee erected in the front and
Western Electric wiring installed.
These are second and third run
houses with a grind policy.
* * *
The Maurice Colbourne Com-
pany closed at the Vancouver
Theatre, after playing a return
engagement, Saturday, January 25.-
They put over three bills in their
last week, in an extra . effort to
attract patronage but without re-
sult. On the opening Monday
night, two women’s clubs filled
the house as guests but even their
boosting failed to bring any busi-
ness. The three bills were “Arms
and the Man,” “John Bull’s Other
Island” and “Man and Superman.”
This company of English players
is a strong aggregation of clever
troupers. Their productions are
well staged and should draw big
patronage but for some reason the
fans failed to deposit at the b. o.
* * *
Instructions have been issued by
the Famous Players Canadian Cor-
poration to their architects to pro-
ceed with the plans for the new
half million dollar theatre they will
erect at Broadway and Granville.
Another new house they will build
will be at Rossland, B. C. This
will be a much smaller one costing
only $40,000. Both theatres will be
equipped with the latest type talkie
apparatus.
(Continued on Page 9)
SSUES STATEMENT
1 JENSEN IT
, G.
SEATTE, January 30.— Earl R.
Crabb, northwest manager for
Fox West Coast Theaters, Inc.,
issued a special statement to In-
side Facts regarding the suit filed
last week by the Jensen Invest-
ment Co. and Mary £. von Her-
berg, holders of preferred stock in
the Pacific Northwest Theaters,
Inc., when the former filed suit
against the latter and the Fox
West Coast Theaters Inc., asking
that they either be paid certain
moneys alleged due as past divi-
dends or that a receiver be ap-
pointed.
“I have just Received a wire
from Jeff Lazarus regarding a
telephone conversation held be-
tween M'r. H. B. Franklin and
Mr. von Herberg.
“Application for dismissal of
the suit by Mr. von Herberg will
immediately be made following an
explanation by Mr. Franklin re-
garding dividend policies in the
past and for the future.”
Internal Differences
Crabb also stated that the suit
was one of purely internal differ-
ences and has absolutely no con-
nection with the actual manage-
ment of either the Pacific North-
( Continued on Page 10)
No Written
Contract For
Eddie Peabody
SEATTLE, January 30.— One
of the most unusual arrangements
between a producer and headline
artist, which bespeaks for the
confidence of the latter in the
former, came to light this week
with Peabody’s opening at the
Fifth Avenue Theatre here.
It is understood that there is no
written agreement between Mrs.
Eddie Peabody, wdio is the dimin-
utive banjo-artist’s sole represen-
tative, and Marco, the producer,
all details being strictly verbal.
RENAME BAND
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Arthur
Clausen’s Seattle Grand Orchestra
was recently refhristened by Man-
ager Bob Blair of this Publix
stand, the Seattle Serenaders. The
personnel of the band is made up
of capable men, each one a mas-
ter of his instrument. Arthur
Clausen, as leader, is heard at fre-
quent intervals, in pleasing violin
solos. John Barbour, as concert
master, heads the string section.
The remainder of the personnel
includes Grant Kuhn, William
Haine, George Kirchner, Barney
Goodman, Herbert Taylor, Otto
Lorbeer, Floyd Smullin, Ed Carey,
Jr., Bid Haw, Thomas Cubbfn and
Lou Jepson.
BETTER WEATHER
7 GET B!Z
SEATTLE, Jan. 30, — Even
though the bad w%ather let up,
with the thermometer climbing a
few degrees, business with the ex-
ception of the Fifth Avenue, where
Peabody opened to a smashing
first week, remained at a low ebb.
A brand new stunt, credited to
Charles Kurtzman, of the Publix
theatres on the coast, tied the
papers up with a daily editorial
and free ads on a “Come Down-
town Week.”
All the local sheets went heavy
for the stunt, which also assisted
in bringing out the hybernated lo-
cals to the business and theatre
district.
Peabody at the Fifth Avenue
took the cream of the long-
hoarded dough to the tune of
$19,000 for his first week here.
“The Lone Star Ranger” was the
screen feature. Credit Marco’s
“Black and Gold Idea” with some
of the gross. Peabody brought
’em in. Nice business and puts
the house well out of the red.
The Publix Seattle did $14,000
with “Sally.” Good business.
Tough to get ’em to go up the
hill here. Clausen and his sym-
phony orchestra, also Ron and
(Continued on Page 10)
My Dear Marco:-
In Justifying Your Showmanlike Faith In My Engagement
My Thanks .... and Reply Is ... .
“GROSSES SPEAK LOUDER THAN WORDS”
In All Sincerity
EDDIE PEABODY
FREELANCING
Indefinite Engagement
Fifth Avenue Theatre, Seattle
UNDER THE SOLE PERSONAL MANAGEMENT OF MRS. EDDIE PEABODY
PAGE EIGHT
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
Greetings! To the Northwest Office!
a
TINY
FROM
BURNETT
AND HIS ORCHESTRAS
R.K.O. SEATTLE
14 YEARS
VENETIAN GARDENS
AT
THE OLYMPIC
The Northwest’s Finest Hotel
ONE YEAR
L
E IS
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.— Establish-
ing an enviable record, Bebs Mal-
loy and his girl revue, currently
in at State Theatre, are enjoying
wide popularity with local tans.
The unit, comprising Malloy as
hoofer and comic; Les Randall,
straights and songs, and six gals,
is now in .its thirty-fourth week
at the stand. Malloy is a new-
comer to local show biz, having
only broken in less than a year
ago. He showed, from the start,
much promise with his feet, and,
by using his head and the glean-
ings from experienced troupers,
Malloy has continued to click
from the start.
Prior to taking over the shows
at the State, Malloy produced a
small show for Universal TheaTres
at their Winter Garden here,
which was his first pro try. He
clicked with the fans untown, and
had no trouble when Uncle Carl
unloaded to land at the State.
Malloy stages a routine of line
numbers, that have the girls look-
ing sweet, mixed in with some
new and snappy black-outs that
get the laughs. The gals include
Evelyn Ruth, Evelyn Kelly, Alice
Lee, Anita Mitchell, Jerry Dean,
Goldie Hall and Revay Howard.
MYRTLE STRONG NOW
IN 7TH MONTH AT ORPH
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.— A grad-
uate of the Chicago Conservatory
of Music and a pupil of Milton
Charles, Myrtle Strong, featured
organist at R-K-O’s Orpheum
Theatre here, is now in her sev-
enth month at the giant console
of this popular vaude house.
Myrtle brings into play all her
technical training, together with a
creative genius all her own that
never fails to sell her concert
numbers to the assembled throngs.
Miss Strong varies her stuff from
classics to late popular numbers,
oftimes using the themies of a
coming picture attraction. This
miss has plenty of personality,
looks mighty sweet on the organ
stool, and knows how to sell her
stuff.
THREE MOSQUITOS BIG
IN AFTERNOON DRAW
SEATTLE, January 30. — Those
with the idea that the radio audi-
ence is small in the afternoon
would have that belief shattered
if they' were to work the “Musi-
cal Side Show” with the “Three
Mosquitos” at KOL in Seattle
each afternoon.
From the first day of the Musi-
cal Side Show requests began to
pour in from listeners. Within
four weeks after the beginning of
the program there were so many
requests that the “Mosquitos”
couldn’t begin to handle them.
This offering is very informal and
takes the dialer right into the
circle. All three lads are comed-
ians and vary their entertainment
to the extent that there is never
too much of anything.
It has been rumored from quite
authentic circles that scouts for
NBC have cast an eye over the
trio and pronounced their work
quite acceptable to be broadcast
for a larger circle of listeners.
Pinkerton Day, baritone; Ken
Stuart, tenor; and Ivan Ditmars,
pianist, make up the trio.
PROJECTIONISTS INSTALL
NEW OFFICERS OF NO. 11
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — At a ban-
quet held in the quarters of the
Ben F. Shearer Co., the officers
of the Vancouver, B. C., Chapter
No. 11 of the American Projec-
tionists’ Society installed the offi-
cers of the newly organized Se-
attle branch which will be known
as Chapter No. 17.
Officers of this new organiza-
tion are Richard Crist, president;
George Kalushe, secretary; E. A.
Clark, treasurer, and P. A. Snider,
sergeant-at-arms, with additional
charter members in Chas. Crick-
more, Harry Lampman, Frank
Myers, Elmer Blicken, Harold
Simpson, Fred Jacky and Fred
Jienecke.
Meetings will be held bi-month-
ly, with attention paid to the new
technical details which arise from
time to time in the matter of
sound and color projection.
Lockslev Clark, Marvin H.
Thoreau, John R. Foster, Will
Tenney, J. Hank Leslie and W.
E. McCartney were the officers
of the Vancouver chapter who-
came down for the installation.
Orchestra
Reviews
TEX HOWARD’S BAND
TRIANON BALLROOM
SEATTLE
(Reviewed Jan. 25)
Tex Howard and his eleven
“Tigers” opened their engagement
at the Trianon Ballroom here to a
nice reception. The big dance spot
was packed to the guards this
night, with long lines patiently
awaiting at the b. o. to buy their
tickets. Tex takes his men through
their routines in smooth, showman-
like fashion. A drummer by trade,
Tex has long forsaken the sticks
and tom-toms for the baton, and
he wields the latter like he knows
what’s it all about. And he does.
Paul McRea, Randy Ball and
Jimmy Murphy make up the sax
section. This trio wields thirteen
different horns between them, and
their playing, whether a hot fox
trot or a soothing waltz, is clear,
melodious and powerful. Crom.
Owens and Sid Johnston handle
the trumpets, and emit some hot
notes from their instruments. Gor-
don Green toots the trombone with
clarity, resonance and power.
Green’s unmuted work on the bal-
lads is especially pretty. Irv An-
tes tickles the ivories. Mace
Charmberlain is on the banjo, and
his strumming aids materially in
gaining the rhythm for which Tex
Howard’s boys have become
known. Harry McAllister is fast
and accurate on the drums. Harry
Reid plays bass, and his work on
this difficult horn is ever outstand-
ing and of material worth to the
band.
Jimmy Murphy, Gordon Green
and Mace Chamberlain trio up for
song interpolations. Two tenors
and a baritone, their voices blend
well, their diction is flawless and
their crooning is a treat for sore
ears. Among the numbers which
the boys rendered tonight, and
which went into the encore class,
were “Song of the Nile,” “Singing
In the Bathtub,” “Chant of the
jungle,” “Wonderful Something,”
“Nobody’s Using It Now” and
“Should I?” An outstanding or-
chestra offering was Robbins’ late-
ly compiled medley which includes
“Just You, Just Me,” “Singing In
the Rain,” “H o w Am I To
TOM OLSEN, LOCAL BOY,
WITH FOX MET HOUSES
SEATTLE, Jan. 30, — Word has
just reached Seattle of Tom Ol-
sen’s affiliation with the Fox
Metropolitan houses in upper New
York State. Tommy is a local
lad who got his first introduction
to the theatrical biz here some six
years ago under the sponsorship
of A1 Finklestein, at that time film
buyer for Jensen and von Her-
berg and now an executive of the
Fox-Pacific Corporation. Finkle-
stein sent Tommy up to the Para-
mount Theatre manager’s school
in New York, from which he
graduated along with such now
well-known figures as Harry
Wareham and Steve Perutz. After
his graduation, Olsen was sent
out to Salt Lake City from
whence he went to Denver. His
next move was to New Orleans,
where he handled publicity on the
Saenger chain of suburban spots.
In November of 1929, Olsen left
the Publix organization to enter
the Fox outfit. After a few months
in and around New York City, he
received the promotion which
netted him his present spot, with
headquarters at the Avon The-
atre, Utica, New York.
JOINS CAMPBELL
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Reginald Tompkins, former Los
Angeles trade paper man, has
joined the local offices of Lloyd
Campbell Publications as assist-
ant to Campbell. In addition to
Tompkins here, Campbell has
placed Billy Moss in Chicago.
M OROSCO OUT
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Oliver Morosco has left the San
Francisco-New York Productions.
Robert Warwick remains head of
the theatrical organization.
Know?” and “Pagan Love Song.”
Charley Gould, a stand-by per-
former, warbled a chorus on “How
Am I To Know?” and Elsie Jew-
ell, house soprano, crooned the Pa-
gan number. Elsie has a nice
voice that carries well through the
big hall, and her several numbers
during the evening brought plenty
of applause.
Tex’s band is a natural for any
ballroom on this coast. The boys
have plenty of personality, wear
their clothes well and know how
to sell their music.
Pill AUTO SHOW
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Not to be
outdone by San Francisco, whose
committee on this year’s auto
show has scheduled Maurice Chev-
alier for a series of personal ap-
pearances during the body and
spark plug exhib in the bay city,
the local automobile association
has sent H. E. Stimpson, its presi-
dent, to Hollywood to personally
proffer Paul Whiteman, king of
jazz, an offer of $1 0,000 to bring
his band here for the annual auto
and transportation pageant. The
Seattle Automobile Association will-
hold its show in the civic audi-
torium here the week of February
23, and the desire of the sponsors
is to have Paul and his boys play
daily at every session.
SYL HARPERIN BAND
WINNING BIG FAVOR
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Under thf
leadership of Syl Halperin, whc
recently left Vic Meyers’ organ'
ization to assume the helm of Me
Elroy’s Columbia Recording Or-
chestra, this unit at C. J. “Pops’
McElroy’s local emporium o:
terpsichore has molded itself intc
one of the most formidable danc<
bands in these parts. The elever
lads play plenty hot rhythm, anc
their local following includes th<
majority of the bunion-busting ad
diets. The orchestral offerings art
enhanced by the song interpola-
tions of Ted Mullen, who has beer
with the band for several years
and who continues to click wit!
both the ferns and their escorts.
BUSINESS GOOD
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Returning from a two weeks 1
trip to Denver, Earl Craven, head
of the American Music Co., re-
ports gooid business condition?
there for his firm.
VIOLA LEACH DIES
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.-
According to Eastern advices, Vi
ola Leach, former player at thi
Alcazar here, died in New Yorl
last week.
THE MUSICAL SHOWMAN
OWEN SWEETEN
GREETINGS
TO THE
N. W. OFFICE
SWEET TONIC FOR ANY BOX OFFICE
NOW— GUEST CONDUCTOR OF
VIC MEYERS ORCHESTRA AT THE
FOX THEATRES, -
SEATTLE
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE NINE
DO UP ID DOWN
IN PAST m IS.
(Continued from Page 7)
some litigation that no one could
understand, J. and V. got the
house back. They put a pile of
dough into it for new seats, car-
pets, drapes, complete projection
equipment, a Western Electric
sound installation, etc., and opened
the house following the greatest
barrage of publicity that has ever
preceded a theatre opening in this
end of the country. Full page
ads, in two colors, were run daily
for two weeks prior to the open-
ing day, January 4. The house
clicked from the opening gun,
with J. & V. capitalizing on their
personalities and throwing up the
slogan, “The Liberty Has Always
Had a Good Show.”
The opening of this house was
the signal for a lively price war.
Showing, currently, first run Pathe
and RKO quickies, the Liberty
opened heavily ballyhooing its
“popular prices” — 15c till one; 25c
till six, and 35c after supper.
Local second runs charging two-
bits in the afternoon, were forced
to come down a peg, and even John
Hamrick’s Blue Mouse, which has
retained a straight half buck pol-
icy since it installed Seattle’s first
Vitaphone three and a half years
ago, is now plastering its ads, bill-
boards and lobby with a 25c till
six snipe. Fox-West Coast, in an
effort to combat the Liberty,
changed its policy for the Coliseum
by meeting the J. & V. prices and
setting in only first-run all-talkies.
It appears that the two local show-
men are out to give the opposish
a strenuous race. They have the
public behind them, it seems, as
the big Liberty sees long lines of
outside standees.
W. C. Bucks Weather
West Coast have withstood the
weather calamity fairly well since
the holidays. Joan Crawford in
“Untamed,” her first squeakie;
“Romance of the Rio Grande,”
billed as a sequel to “In Old Ari-
zona” and possibly one other opus
kept the Fifth Avenue in the
black. But the big bolster for this
house came last week when Marco
shoved Eddie Peabody in for a
limited stay as M. C. Eddie im-
mediately proceeded to smash the
existing week-end record, "which
he himself held, and has brought
plenty of profitable activity to the
Fifth in his first two weeks there.
The other West Coast stand, the
Fox, took a new lease on life with
the booking in of “Sunny Side
Up,” together with Vic Meyers’
radio dance band replacing Joe
Sampietro’s aggregation. Follow-
ing “Sunny Side” the new Fox
had “Hot For Paris” for two
mighty profitable stanzas. Owen
Sweeten is currently in at this
stand as conductor of Vic’s band|
Publix, due to its geographical
location, five blocks up the hill
from the whirl of traffic, was,
possibly, hardest hit by the ele-
VANCOUVER
(Continued from Page 7)
The Capitol led the parade this
week with the biggest b. o. tak-
ings of any house in town. Ron-
ald Colman in “Bulldog Drum-
mond” and Alfredo Meunier and
his Capitolians being the draw.
The new Orpheum was next with
a five-act bill of vaudeville head-
lined by Healy & Cross, and
Paramount’s “Half Way to
Heaven.” The Strand had Billie
Dove in the “Painted Angel,” and
their last F. and M. revue, “Jazz
Temple.” The Dominion had Fox’s
“Lucky Star” with Janet Gaynor
and Chas. Farrell. The Pan split
the week with “4 Devils” and
“Behind That Curtain.” At the
Vancouver Maurice Colbourne and
his English company played three
different bills to poor business.
EXCHANGE CHANGES
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Recent
changes at United Artists Ex-
change here include th^ following:
D. J. McNerney goes to the San
Francisco office, Fred Gage comes
to Seattle from Salt Lake, Fred
Lind is still covering Washington
territory and Fred Talbot is still
handling Oregon.
BUSHON IN N. W.
SEATTLE, January 30. — David
Bushon, Western sales manager of
the United Artists Corporation,
has been in Seattle for the past
week. He left last Thursday for
Los Angeles where he expects to
stay for about ten days.
ments. Ronald Colman in “Con-
demned,” did fairly, while Maurice
Chevalier in “The Love Parade”
and Marilyn Miller in “Sally” un-
doubtedly turned in a profit. The
last two productions would un-
questionably have brought another
five grand apiece had there been
a weather break. The fans found
it tough battling the icy pavements
up those five hilly blocks.
Legit, Vaud Did Well
The legit field, including vaude-
ville, wasn’t hit quite as hard as
the pictures. Duffy at his Presi-
dent, has done consistently well,
while Maurice Colbourne in a
repertoire of Bernard Shaw plays
and Gordon McLeod in “The
Ringer” at Erlanger’s Metropoli-
tan both showed a little in the
black. RKO’s Orpheum didn’t
slump much, and had a whale of
a week right after New Year’s
when Olsen and Johnson appeared.
Rudy Vallee’s first screen at-
tempt, “The Vagabond Lover,”
held up fair, but took a wallop
from the ice man.
But one real bust was registered
during this period, and that by
Jack Russell and his musical com-
edy troupe which folded up after
but four weeks at the Pantages.
The initial price scale m^y be at-
tributed as one of the direct causes
of the flop. The show was well
enough, but this town is too dime
conscious, and that 65 cent night
tariff scared the natives the first
two weeks. And after that, it was
too late. The opening week was
heavy and profitable.
NOW— 40th WEEK— STATE THEATRE
SEATTLE
BEB MALLOY -EVELYN RUTH
SINGING and DANCING FUNSTERS
Fanchon and Marco
Route List of “Ideas”
GRAND OPERA CO,
TO OPEN FEB. 18
Following is the Fanchon and Marcos
Ideas route schedule, with the opening
dates, all of the current month, in pa-
renthesis besides the name of the town :
PASADENA (30)
Colorado Theatre
“Zeppelin” Idea
LOS ANGELES (30)
Loew’s State
‘ ‘Eyes’ ’ Idea
Wells and Winthrop Six Candrevas
Bob and Ula Buroff
SAN DIEGO (30)
Fox Theatre
“Trees” Idea
Shapiro ond O’Malley Nayons Birds
Keo, Toki and Yoki
LONG BEACH (31)
West Coast Theatre
“Peasant” Idea
Diehl Sisters General Ed Lavine
■June Worth Bert Prival
Belcher Dancers
HOLLYWOOD (30)
Egyptian Theatre
“Manila Bound” Idea
Romero Family Stella Royal
Harry and Frank Seamon
FRESNO (31-2)
Wilson Theatre
‘ ‘Ivory’ ’ Idea
Betty Lou Webb Hy Meyer
Four High Hatters Goetz and Duffy
Christel LeVine and Ted Reicard
SAN JOSE (3-6)
California Theatre
“Ivory” Idea
Betty Lou Webb Hy Meyer
FourHigh Haters Goetz and Duffy
Christel LeVine and Ted Reicard
SAN FRANCISCO (31)
Fox Theatre
“Overtures” Idea
Toots Novelle Harry Rapee
Edison and Gregory Huff and Huff
Helen Hille
OAKLAND (31)
Fox Oakland
‘ ‘Desert’ ’ Idea
Ed and Morton Beck Muriel Stryker
Cropley and Violet Manuel Lopez
Carla Torney Girls
SACRAMENTO (31)
Senator Theatre
“International” Idea
Frederico Flores Osaka Boys
Billy Carr Markel and Faun
Mignon Laird
SALEM, ORE. (1-3)
Elsinore Theatre
‘ ‘Hot Dominoes’ ’ Idea
Les Klicks Pall Mall
Dexter, Webb and Diaz
PORTLAND (30)
Broadway Theatre
* ‘Uniforms ’ ’ Idea.
Armand & Perez Joy Brothers
Sylvia Shore & Helen Ruth Hamilton
SEATTLE (30)
Fifth Avenue Theatre
“Carnival Russe” Idea
Countess Sonia Sam Linfield & Co.
Alex-SherBekefi
Russian Sunrise Trio
GREAT FALLS, MONT. (28-29)
Grand Theatre
“Black and Gold Idea”
Four Kemmys Maxine Hamilton
Arnold Grazer Lee Wilmot
BUTTE, MONT. (30-2)
Fox Theatre
“Black and Gold” Idea
Four Kennys Maxine Hamilton
Arnold Grazer Lee Wilmot
DENVER, COLO. (30)
Tabor Grand
“Jezz Temple” Idea
Wally Jackson Nora Schiller
Gus Elmore Sylvia Dorse
Temple Beauties
ST. LOUIS (31)
Fox Theatre
“Idea In Green”
Doris Nierly Franklyn Record
Moran & Weston
Way Watts & Arminda
PLAY TO OPEN
SEATTLE, January 30. : — “The
Makropoulos Secret,” by Karl Ca-
pek, will be seen at the Metro-
politan Theatre on Friday and
Saturday, February 7 and 8, when
the Moroni Olsen Players offer
their second visit to Seattle for
the current season. This play is
new to Seattle audiences.
MILWAUKEE (31)
Wisconsin Theatre
‘ ‘Far East’ ’ Idea
Frank Stever 2 Jacks & 2 Queens
Helen Fachaud Ruth Kadamatsu
M. Sanami & Co. Joan Hardcdstle
DETROIT, MICH. (31)
Fox Detroit
“Accordion” Idea
Burt & Lehman Theo. & Katya
Nat Spector Mary Price
Arnold Hartman
NIAGARA FALLS, N. Y. (1-4)
Strand Theatre
‘ ‘Kisses’ ’ Idea
Mabel and Marcia Joe & Jane McKenna
Mitzi Mayfair Will Cowan
Wallen and Barnes E. Flat Four
Dave Hacker Helen Aubrey
UTICA, N. Y. (3)
Gayety Theatre
‘ ‘Kisses’ ’ Idea
Joe & Jane McKenna
Will Cowan Mabel & Marcia
E Flat Four Mitzi Mayfair
Helen Aubrey Dave Hacker
Wallen & Barnes
BUFFALO, N. Y. (31)
Lafayette Theatre
“Types” Idea
Carlena Diamond
Trado Twins Harold Stanton
WORCESTER, MASS. (31)
Palace Theatre
‘ ‘Drapes’ ’ Idea
Frank Melino & Co. Jerome Mann
Dorothy Kelly
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. (31)
SEATTLE, January 30. — The
Columbia Grand Opera Company
will open at the Metropolitan on
February 18 for seven erforrn-
ances, following a long engage-
ment in Los Angeles and at pres-
ent playing in San Francisco.
The chorus, under the direction
of Alberto Conti, who recently
came from the Royal Theatre,
Lisbon, is said to be assembled
from the southern opera associa-
tion and said to be one of the
finest found in a grand opera
chorus.
The company is under the di-
rection of Alexander Bevani, whose
principals include Myrna Sliarlow,
Tina Paggi, Louisa Caselotti, El-
sie Lee Wilson, Edith Mackey,
Alicia Mums, Giuseppe Barsotti,
Mario Fior,ella, Nino Piccaluga,
Gennaro Barra, Galileo Parigi,
Enrico Spada, Claudio Frigerio,
Carlo Scattola.
Palace Theatre
“Columns” Idea
Rome & Gaut Billy Rolls
Niles Marsh Maxine Evelyn
Dorothy Henley
HARTFORD, CONN. (31)
Capitol Theatre
‘ ‘Gobs of Joy’ ’ Idea
Pat West Scotty Weston
Bailey and Barnum Coley
Cook Sisters Loma Ruth
Billy & Elsie Lewis Dolly Kramer
Moore and Moore Johnny Ashford
Jones and Howett Wanda Allen
Henry Aguirre
NEW HAVEN, CONN. (31)
Palace Theatre
“Hollywood Studio Girls” Idea
Three Gobs Miles & Perlee '
Chas. Rozelle John Vale
Lorris & Fermine
BRIDGEPORT (31)
Palace Theatre
“Screenland Melodies” Idea
David Reece Lucille Iverson
Sherry Louise Everts & Lowry
Karavaeff Franklin & Warner
Lamberti Jack & Betty Welling
WATERBURY, CONN. (31)
Fox Theatre
“Jazz Cinderella” Idea
Mae Usher Albert Hugo
Roy Rogers Billy Randall
James Gaylord Pauline Alpert
Adair & Stewart
BROOKLYN, N. Y. (31)
Fox Theatre
“Gardens’ ’ Idea
Slate Bros. Vina Zolle
Moffa and Mae Cliff Nazzaro
WASHINGTON, D. C. (31)
Fox Theatre
“Watermelon Blues” Idea
Mammy and Her Ted Ledford
Picks Louise & Mitchell
Southern Steppers
ATLANTA, GA. (31)
Fox Theatre
‘ ‘Sweet Cookies” Idea
Eva Mandel Roy M. Loomis
Jones & Hull Bobbe Tomson
TULSA, OKLA. (31)
Orpheum Theatre
“Speed” Idea
Black Cat Four
Cal Norris Parker & Mack
> Greyhounds Helen Burke
BAND RE-SIGNS
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
The Laughner-Harris, orchestra,
headed by Carol Laughner and
Phil Harris has re-signed at the
Hotel St. Francis and will re-
main there for another six months.
Since this organization opened
there several months ago business
has picked up to an appreciable
degree.
BETTY SHILTON THREE
YEARS SEATTLE FAV
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.- — Close to
three years now have Seattle thea-
tregoers been hearing Betty Shil-
ton, popular young organist at
Fox’s big Fifth Avenue Theatre
here. Due to the fact that the
Fifth Avenue houses the Fanchon
and Marco stage units, Betty does
not have the opportunity to play
concerts, but she is heard daily,
morning and evening, over radio
station KOMO, the town’s leading
ether occupier.
Requests running into the thou-
sands annually pour into Betty’s
mail box, coming from every state
in the Union, from Maine to
California, and from Alaska to.
Florida, not excluding the Ha-
waiian and Philippine Islands and
the Orient.
When the occasion calls, Betty
also serves to enhance the worth
of the house orchestra’s . concerts
and overtures.
BOOKER SHIFTED
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — L. Carl-
son, assistant booker at the Pathe
Exchange here, 'has been trans-
ferred to the San Francisco office.
GREETING
from
OLYMPIC
FILM STUDIOS
2419 2nd Ave., Seattle
SLIDES— TRAILERS
INDUSTRIAL FILMS
The Largest and Best
Equipped Plant in
the Northwest
We’re Proud of Our Union!
SEATTLE LOCAL No. 154
Motion Picture Operators
OUR CREED
With
Consideration
OUR AIM IS UPWNRD
Six-Day Week!
T7 1 ® ur Members
A Living Wage!
for the
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Fair Working Conditions!
& w iv The Public
Employer
PAGE TEN
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
SEME
TO HAVE BIG YEAR
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.— With W.
J. “Bill” Douglas back at the
helm of local No. 76, A. F. of M.,
Musicians’ Association of SeaTtle,
local followers of this strong or-
ganization look for the outfit to
make rapid strides during the
coming year.
Douglas, after serving Local
76 for fifteen years, resigned last
spring to enter the employ of the
American Broadcasting Company,
now defunct. At the recent elec-
tion of officers he was again in-
stalled to the secretary’s office,
and already members of the local
are noticing renewed activity.
Henri Pelletier, for many years
president of the Musicians’ Asso-
ciation, continues in the capacity,
and he, with Douglas, are planning
great things for the local. Among
plans already formulated and set
for early execution is the erection
of a new, modern home for the
union. The organization is now
housed in an old residence in the
heart of the business district which
is conceded to be worth much
more as business property than as
the home of the union. The mu-
sicians stand to realize a big
chunk of profit if they elect to
sell their present abode.
BEmTIilER
IT GET BIZ
(Continued from Page 7)
Don on the program due their
share.
Close behind came the Fox
Theatre with the all-colored
M-G-M picture, “Hallelujah” and
Owen Sweeten’s opening week
with Vic Meyers’ orchestra. Word-
of-mouth brought plenty in to see
the latter after opening day. while
the former gets its share for the
$12,500 gross.
The Orpheum didn’t fare so well
for the first time in many weeks,
doing only an estimated $10,000
with William Boyd in “His First
Command” and five acts of vaude-
ville. Lowest gross for some
time.
John Hamrick’s Music Box did
over $9500 with Barrymore’s first
week in “General Crack” in for
three weeks. Across the street at
the Blue Mouse, “The Lost Zep-
pelin” did $5250.
Duffy Players did their usual
fair business with “Broken Dishes”
to the tune of $3000.
“Kibitzer” did a little better than
$3250 for five days at the Met.
HENRI LE BEL
FOX THEATRE
SEATTLE
(Reviewed Jan. 26 )
Le Bel choses “Somewhere a
Voice Is Calling” for his concert
this week, and does with this
semi-classic. With the house in
darkness, Le Bel announces his
number over the amplifiers from a
mike on the console. As he rises,
and the lights come up, he em-
ploys a heavy combination of the
bass and vox humanas. He shifts
gracefully to the trumpets on the
chorus, bringing in some pretty
and effective bells. On the second
chorus he uses a nifty combina-
tion of deep bass, intermingled
with the chimes.
A beautiful blending of trump-
ets, strings, vox and tremulas.
with plenty of sock, for which
Henri is known, and which he
does well, furnishes the finale. The
number is short, but it takes a
powerful lot of applause.
Bait.
RADIO ANNOUNCER HAS
RISKS BUT STICKS ON
SEATTLE, January 30. — “Hold-
by-hold” radio descriptions by
Ken Stuart, versatile sports an-
nouncer for KOL in Seattle, have
been accredied with building up
the audience from less than 100
fans to 3500 cheering .patrons of
the weekly wrestling bill at the
Civic Auditorium. Ken knows the
game and holds his listeners with
a colorful account of the thrills
and spills on the canvas. He has
become a favorite among sport
followers. Not that the announcer
does not have his own thrills
when sitting close to the ring with
his “mike.” Ken has been slapped
in the face by wrestlers diving or
being thrown out of the ring, but
he has gone down protecting his
broadcasting apparatus with a
wrestler on top of him, seldom
failing his audience when there is
a mat contest scheduled for the
.evening.
IT
T
(Continued from Page 7)
west or Fox West Coast The-
atres.
“The matter of whether divi-
dends have been declared or not
is not essential. Our board of di-
rectors, representing all of the
stockholders, has approved the tak-
ing of dividend moneys and put-
ting them back into the business
in the form of additional the-
atre holdings, of which many have
been added in the past two years.”
The Pacific Northwe|t The-
aters, Inc., is a Nevada corpora-
tion, with 5000 shares of pre-
ferred stock, of which the plain-
tiffs own all that have been is-
sued, and 200', 000 shares of no par
value common stock, which car-
ries the voting rights.
The locals treated the above
suit rather lightly, and those in
the know along the rialto figured
the publicity garnered did not jus-
tify elaborate statements, figures,
etc., given the press.
Re-Open Liberty
Jensen and von Herberg re-
cently re-opened the Liberty The-
atre here, hitting some of the dail-
ies with a splurge campaign, with
Seattleites figuring the pair of
northwest show-men on their way
to their former pinnacle in north-
west theatrical circles. Aside from
re-opening the Liberty they have
not as yet made any move towards
their former stand, except for this
suit, which Don Graham, counsel
for Fox West Coast Theatres
openly characterized as spite work,
asserting that competitive inter-
ests were intending to hurt Fox
enterprises.
Graham also declared the Fox
Theatere earnings here have been
more than satisfactory, with
amounts running into six figures
-being used to finance expansion.
CIRCUS SAILS
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
The F. A. Clare Circus sailed
from here on the S.'S. Sierra last
week for a tour of the South Seas
and Australia. John Aasen, 8 foot,
9 inch giant who was with Harold
Lloyd in _ “Why Worry” is the
featured side show attraction with
the circus.
W. C. EXECS IN CRASH
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Charles Forbes, superintendent of
construction for Fox West Coast
Theatres, was killed and Charles
Buckley, legal advisor for the
same company, was injured as the
result of an auto accident near
Bakersfield last week.
GREETINGS
from
Myrtle Strong
ORGANIST
R-K-0
SEATTLE
RETURNS TO HOLLYWOOD
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Evelyn
Hayes, daughter of George Hayes,
stage hand at the Fifth Avenue,
returned to Hollywood this week
after spending the holidays with
her parents. Evelyn, after gaining
quite a rep in these parts as a
dancer, landed in the movies and
returns to fulfill contracts.
ORGANISTS SWITCH
SEATTLE, January 30. — Stan-
ley Malotte, featured organist at
the Portland Theatre, Portland,
will open at the Publix Theatre
February 7. The switch is made
with Ron and Don who will re-
lieve Malotte in the Portland
house.
JOINS KVI
SEATTLE, Jan. 30.— Dick Rick-
ard is the latest addition to the
announcing staff at KVI, E. A.
Barnard, manager, announces.
Dick comes north from KHJ at
Los Angeles, where he handled
many of the big radio events of
the year. He is a graduate of the
Queen Anne High school and the
University of Washington, class
of 1927.
CHEVALIER SECOND RUN
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Publix
opened an extended run of Mau-
rice Chevalier’s “The Love Pa-
rade” at the Metropolitan after a
nice week’s biz at the ace house,
the Seattle. The return showing
is proving profitable.
POST NOTICES
SEATTLE, Ja-n. 30.— The Presi-
dent Theatre, home of the Henry
Duffy Players here, have posted
their two weeks’ notice to close
with the opening of Guy Bates
Post yesterday in a two weeks
engagement.
TIBBETT IN CONCERT
SEATTLE, January 30. — Law-
rence Tibbett, famed baritone
whose M-G-M picture “The Rogue
Song” is a sensation in spots
where it has been released and
who is a member of the Metro-
politan" Opera Company, will open
in concert at the Metropolitan
Theatre Tuesday, February 25.
THERE IS
NO GREATER
ORGAN ENTERTAINMENT
• •
THAN
• •
Sole
Originators
of The Baby
Console
Note; THIS IS FULLY PROTECTED!
SEATTLE
THEATRE
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE ELEVEN
Harold J. Bock
Manager
PHONE DOUGLAS 2213
SAN FRANCISCO
KRESS BLDG.
935 Market St.,
Office Suite 504
TAYLOR HOLMES’ DOOLEY’ GOOD;
‘FERGUSON FAMILY’ IS WEAK
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29-
Opening of Taylor Holmes in
“Your Uncle Dudley” at Duffy’s
Alcazar and the sudden closing
of “Bambina” at the Curran and
“Bad Babies” at the Capitol were
highlights of the legit week.
The Holmes show did nicely
for Duffy at the Alcazar, receipts
for the initial stanza totalling
$5800. On the other hand, “The
Ferguson Family” at the Presi-
RECORD CO. CHIEFS
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
The Pacific Coast Record Corp.,
featuring "Elexo,” a new _ pro-
cessed record, has been incor-
porated here with a capitalization
of $250,000. Max and Louis Graf,
picture producers, head the com-
pany. The firm's plant, now under
way, will have complete equipment
for recording, plating and pressing
of records.
Associated with the Graf Bros,
in the technical department is J.
J. Warner, formerly of St. Louis,
where he has spent approximately
20 years in experimenting with
“Flexo,” a flexible material on
which the new company will make
all its recordings. In addition to
“Flexo” Warner also has a port-
able talking picture equipment for
standard film which the firm will
manufacture for home talkies. The
equipment uses standard 6 mm.
width film and will have disc re-
cordings made in the plant.
Advertising film, short subjects,
personal recording and radio
broadcasting are among the other
varied departments to be con-
tained in the Pacific Coast Record
Corp. when the organization soon
starts its schedule full blast.
dent was very weak, drawing only
$3200 for its seven days. Hale
Hamilton and Alice Joyce in “Her
Friend the King” opens Sunday.
In Oakland at Duffy’s Dufwin
Kolb and Dill opened big in
“Give and Take,” doing $5600.
“Bambina,” which opened nicely
the week previous at the Curran,
closed at the end of its second
week preparatory to jumping into
Los Angeles where it opens. Sec-
ond and final week’s figures were
$14,000. House dark until Feb. 3
when “Oh Susanna” in. Geary
also dark, as is the Capitol.
There was much legal hubbub
concerning “Bad Babies” at the
Capitol. First week of this show
opened lightly to $8000 and by the
end of the second week there was
nobody around the house to give
a figure on the business.
Columbia still holds the Colum-
bia Opera Co. doing good business.
Sid Goldtree opens “The Peep-
hole” at his Green Street Theatre
Jan. 29 and will feature a mid-
night matinee every Saturday in
addition to regular performances.
CHEVALIER AT SHOW
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
Preceded by anextravagant fanfare
of publicity, local motor dealers
open their annual auto show at
the Civic Auditorium February 1
for one week. Under an agree-
ment with Paramount the motor
men have borrowed Maurice Chev-
alier who is nicking them $18,000
for a week of personal appear-
ances. Harry Elliott is handling
advertising and publicity for the
show'.
OPEN AT LIDO
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
The Big Three, vocal trio composed
of Harry Morton, Heine Klotz
and Ron Jonson, opens an indefi-
nite engagement at the Lido . Cafe
this week.
INVESTIGATE THIS NEW PROCESS!
We Make
PHONOGRAPHIC RECORDS
OF YOUR OWN TALENT
602 Kress Bldg.
Phone Kearney 5083
935 Market
San Francisco
HOTEL GOVERNOR
TURK AT JONES
SAN FRANCISCO
THE HOME OF ALL THEATRICAL PEOPLE
PLAYING SAN FRANCISCO
SPECIAL RATES TO PROFESSIONALS
JACK WOLFENDEN, Prop. FRANK RATCHFORD, Mgr.
S, E. IS CANDIDATE
FOR ‘HUE' MEDAL
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
Once internationally noted for its
liberality and broad - mindedness,
San Francisco, by virtually raid-
ing “Bad Babies” out of town,
seems heading for a reversal of
its former reputation. After Po-
lice Judge Sylvain Lazarus had
acquitted the cast and producers
on charge of presenting an im-
moral and indecent performance,
civic virtue, impersonated by Capt.
Arthur D. Layne and the grand
jury reared up on their hind legs
and formally requested the show
to leave town.
After constant harassing by
some authorities, Producer Lee
Armes gave up in disgust this
week. Equity got on the job by
long distance phone at 11 p. m.
Saturday night and made arrange-
ments to ship the majority of his
cast back to Los Angeles where
the show was originally staged a
number of weeks ago and also
ran into legal tangles.
FILMS FOR CHARITY
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
During 1929 the local Film Board
of Trade, through its members,
supplied gratis film to approxi-
mately 30 charitable institutions, it
was revealed in the annual report
recently issued to Rowena Foley,
secretary. There were about 5,-
121,000 feet of film in the entire
lot.
ABE BLOOM BACK
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Abe Bloom, local representative
for Irving Berlin, Inc., has re-
turned from a two-week tour of
the Northwest territory in the
interests of his firm.
NEW CHORUS OPENS
SAN FRANCISC, Jan. 30.—
In addition to her regular lineup
of sixteen girls at the Fox El
Capitan here, Peggy O’Neill has
a second line alternating between
the Wilson in Fresno and the
California in San Jose. New
chorus opened Monday in Fresno
for four days and opens Friday in
San Jose for the balance of the
week.
CIRCUS TO OPEN
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
The Al. G. Barnes circus is slated
to open its 1930 season March
10. Staff for the show includes
Ben Austin, advance; Ed F. Max-
well, contracting agent; R. C.
Morgan, car manager Allen Les-
ter, press agent; Cliff McDougal,
contracting p.a. and Jack Austin,
auto manager.
‘HOT FOR PARIS’ OPENS BIG TO
APPROXIMATE $50,000 GROSS
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29. — Wagnon’s Embassy tapped the bell
A run of nice weather helped+with a figure of $15,000 for its
boost picture show shop receipts
during the past week with the
Fox benefiting most by the change.
Fox’s “Hot For Paris” with Vic
McLaglen and Fifi D’Orsay and
Fanchon and Marco’s “Internation-
al Idea,” master-of-ceremonied by
Walt Roesner, drew in approxi-
mately $50,000. Present show has
Marion Davies in “Not So Dumb”
and the “Desert Idea.”
“Sunny Side Up” in its third
stanza at Loew’s Warfield okay
at $17,000. One more week and
then “Hallelujah” in for a short
stay.
Paramount’s “Lady Lies” with
Ruth Chatterton at Publix’s Gran-
ada did $21,000, nice word-of-
mouth helping. “Kibitzer” there
now. At Publix’s California, sec-
ond week of “Sally” did $17,500.
Sixth week of Chevalier in “Love
Parade” at the St. Francis okay
at $9000. House bringing in Lil-
lian Roth for personal appearances
next week.
Second week of U’s “Broadway”
at the Orpheum average at $10,-
000. Radio’s “Love Comes Along”
holding the screen now, and “Hit
the Deck” set for next week.
Warners’ “Show of Shows” at
JACK DELANEY’S
DANCE ORCHESTRA
In Its Second Year at
ALABAM CAFE
OAKLAND
THE NEW-pJSENSATION !
“JUST ONE—
THAT’S ALL”
A Comedy Mock Ballad
AMERICAN MUSIC CO.
kkess bldg., san francisco
first seven days and still there.
The Marion Davies with "Skinner
Steps Out” did $8500 and Tif-
fany’s “Peacock Alley” now in.
Casino excellent with “South
Sea Rose” doing a near record of
$12,000 aided by a stage show.
“Night Ride,” looks big now.
NEW NUMBER
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
A number “When I Take You
Home” has been written by An-
son Weeks, orchestra leader at
the Mark Hopkins Hotel, and
Larry Yoell. The tune, to be pub-
lished by Lloyd Campbell, is
played as a closing number each
night by Weeks.
TO REOPEN STRAND
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
National Theatres will reopen the
Strand in Modesto on Feb. 15.
The house has been closed since
March.
IS DOORMAN
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
J. W. Roscoe is stage doorman at
Ackerman and Harris’ Casino
Theatre.
INVEST
Your Earnings Wisely
For Conservative Investment
Consult
Wm. J. Kreuz
De Fremery & Co.
947 Russ Bldg.
San Francisco
Phone Sutter 3300
REMOVAL NOTICE
THEO. M. NEWMAN’S
THEATRE DRAPERY STUDIO
NOW LOCATED ON THE SPACIOUS GROUND FLOOR
283 GOLDEN GATE AVE. SAN FRANCISCO
Phone: Market 1830
STAGE CURTAINS — THEATRE DRAPERIES — LOBBY AND
STAIR ROPES — PIANO AND ORGAN COVERS —GROUND
CLOTHS — PIANO CARRIAGES — COMPLETE COUNTER-
WEIGHT SYSTEMS INSTALLED
LOOK THESE ENGAGEMENTS OVER
16 WEEKS, PANTAGES THEATRE, S. F.
12 WEEKS, SILVER SLIPPER CAFE, S. F.
16 WEEKS, CAFE MARQUARD, S. F.
2 WEEKS, ORPHEUM, With Buss McClelland
ALL HELD BY
JIMMIE BIRR
‘ACE OF SONGS’
NOW ON INDEFINITE ENGAGEMENT AT THE
FOX EL CAPITAN - - - SAN FRANCISCO
With Appreciation to JAY BROWER, PEGGY O’NEILL, MEL HERTZ and DAN McLEAN
SCENERY BY MARTIN STUDIOS
HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA
PAGE TWELVE
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
Facts? Echoes From Melody L,and
By JACK B. TENNEY
The musical tramp differs from
the wandering troubadour, inas-
far as the day of the troubadour
is passed and a new terminology
is in order. The musical tramp,
however, may ; be a development,
or, at least a direct descendant
of the celebrated minstrels who
brightened the festive boards of
feudal barons. I do not know
whether to feel sorry for him or
to be keenly exasperated at him.
At times I am moved by both
emotions. . . . He is here today
. . . gone tomorrow. He is us-
ually a good salesman and has
talent, but he is a gypsy.
Somehow the musical tramp
misses the “breaks” in the gilded
Temples of Music . . . and many
I’ve known might well have scin-
tillated there. For some reason
they always get lost just around
the corner from Broadway and
spend the rest of their days in
aimless wanderings. . . . Mean-
time they pipe their tunes and
sing their songs, travelling on in
pursuit of elusive Fortune . . .
They are quite as careless with
Dame Fortune as the fickle god-
dess is with them. . . . The first
money in weeks . . . easy come,
easy go.
They are usually good fellows
and good companions, these mu-
sical tramps, and not infrequent-
ly, excellent musicians. But they
can’t remain long in one place.
. . . Distant fields appear so much
greener. Something calls and they
make haste to answer. ... No-
madism is still strong in their
blood. . . . They’ll probably have
a devil of a time in heaven.
* * *
Max Bradfield, M. C., is prov-
ing popular at the Wisconsin The-
atre in Milwaukee. We wonder
how Max is enjoying the ice and
snow.
* * *
Reg Code opened recently at
the Athens Athletic Club in Oak-
land, after a very successful year
at Tait’s-at-the-Beach in San
Francisco, playing to excellent
business. (Coakley followed Reg
Code in to the Beach spot.) The
orchestra has been enthusiastic-
ally received and is going big.
* * *
“Slim” Martin, Master of Cere-
monies and the trombone, has
been transferred from the Col-
orado Theatre in Pasadena to the
Boulevard Theatre in Los An-
geles. They still miss Slim in
Long Beach and now they’ll miss
him in Pasadena.
* * *
The passing of Art Hickman
AT LIBERTY *
DICK BURNS
Fast drummer; fine outfit; Vibra-
phone. Read anything. Union. Age
35. All requirements Xylophone solo-
ist with large rep. of solos. Dance or
Hotel. All answered. Go anywhere.
Care of Inside Facts, 801 Warner
Brothers’ Downtown Bldg., Los Ange-
les, Calif.
leaves a catch in the throat of
rhythm musicians. He was an
originator and an inspiration to
most of the early devotees of jazz
and set the first standards for the
modern dance orchestra. He leaves
considerably more than footsteps
upon the historical sands of mu-
sic. His influence will be felt
in every baton that marks a dis-
tinct rhythm. Art Hickman is
gone, but what he created lives on.
* * *
The American Locomjotive
Works have gone into the saxa-
phone manufacturing business. To
start with, they have produced
the world’s largest saxaphone. It
stands six feet and seven inches
in its stocking feet and takes a
reed thirteen-sixteenths of an inch
at the lip. The rod operating the
low C sharp key is said to have
a length of thirty-nine inches. The
rod for the side C key is thirty-
seven and one-half inches long.
The pitch is not mentioned, but
it is reported that the tone is
“sonorous.” We know quite a few
saxaphone players who would en-
joy owning one of these instru-
ments, inasmuch as the present
size saxes are entirely to modest
and can barely be heard above
the other instruments in the or
chestra.
* * *
Joey Starr and his Musical
Stars, _ an eight-piece orchestra,
open in the Rendezvous Ballroom,
Mesa, Ariz., Saturday, February
8, replacing the Rendezvous Com-
manders who have had a success-
ful run since last September. The
personnel of the new band is
“Stew” Aspin, reeds; Ted Wells,
reeds; Bill Macauley, banjo and
violin; Gene “Tiny” Hardesty,
trombone; Ralph Menard, piano;
M. A. Bradley, hass, violin and
banjo, and Joey Starr, drums and
leader.
ON “REVELS”
_ Louis Gottschalk has been
signed by Radio Pictures to as-
sist Victor Baravalle, musical di-
rector, on musical numbers for
“Radio Revels.” Gottschalk has
been in Hollywood 10 years and
has worked on a number of high-
ly successful pictures, among them
“Broken Blossoms,” for which he
arranged the musical score.
G. S. M. HERE
Billy Weimann, general sales
manager for E. B. Marks Music
Company, arrived in town for a
few days this week. Weimann is
making a general tour of the
country.
NEW WITMARK OFFICE
.Witmark, Inc., music publishers,
will open their new offices in War-
ner Brothers Hollywood Build-
ing Monday, Feb. 3. There will
be no gala opening, but all the
theatrical profession is invited to
attend during the day.
“AT THE END OF THE ROAD” =========
It’s Always “Open House” in the
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE OF
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
Again Managed by
ABE BLOOM
300 Kress Bldg. 935 Market
■■ “I’M FOLLOWING YOU”
WILL, PRIOR
CONDUCTOR
NEW STATE THEATRE. SYDNEY. AUSTRALIA
TED HENKEL
MUSICAL
CONDUCTOR
PRESENTATION
DIRECTOR
and
CIVIC THEATRE
Auckland, New Zealand
- : - Stage Band of 20
Pit Orchestra of 30
LOS ANGELES
Robbins’ “Chant of the Jungle,”
themie from M-G-M’s “Untamed,”
continued to lead the song sales in
town during the past week, with
their “Should I?” continuing to
show an increase.
The ten best sellers were;
1. “Chant of the Jungle,” —
Robbins.
2. “To Be Forgotten” — Berlin.
3. “I’m Following You” — Ber-
lin..
4. “Should I ?”— Robbins.
5. “Love, Your Spell Is Every-
where” — Berlin.
6. “Love Me” — Feist.
7. “A Year From Today” — Ber-
lin.
8. “What Do I Care?”- — Sha-
piro, Bernstein.
9. “That Wonderful Something
Called Love” — Robbins.
10. “Singing In the Bathtub” —
Witmark.
Recordings
1. “Chant of the Jungle” — All
recordings.
2. “Should I?” — Paul Whiteman
(Columbia).
3. “I’m Following You” — Paul
Specht (Columbia).
4. “Singing In the Bathtub”—
Ben Bernie (Brunswick).
5. “Love, Your Spell Is Every-
where” — All recordings.
6. “That Wonderful Something
Called Love” — Roy Ingraham
(Brunswick).
7. “Little By Little” — Guy Lom-
bardo (Columbia).
8. “Your Fate Is In My Hands”
— Paul Whiteman (Columbia).
9. “What Do I Care”— All re-
cordings.
10. “You’re Always In My
Arms” — Bebe Daniels (Victor).
SAN FRANCISCO
“When the Sun Goes Down”
and “Chant of the Jungle” had the
biggest sales increases of the week,
other tunes holding quite steadily
to their previous pace.
Leaders are:
1. Aren’t We All?”- — DeSylva,
Brown and Henderson.
2. Sunny Side Up” — DeSylva,
Brown and Henderson.
3. “Chant of the Jungle” — Rob-
bins.
4. “Talking Picture” — DeSylva,
Brown and Henderson.
5. “I’m Following You” — Ber-
lin.
6. “When the Sun Goes Down”
— Lloyd Campbell.
7. “Singing In the Bathtub”—
Witmark.
8. “Your Fate Is In My Hands”
Santly Bros.
9. “Turn On the Heat”— De-
Sylva, Brown and Henderson.
10. “You’re Always In My
Arms” — Leo Feist.
HAS NEW NUMBER
LONG BEACH, Cal., Jan. 30.—
George Broa.dbent, popular organ-
ist and soloist for the Fox-Wbst
Coast Theatre, has written a song
called “Sweetheart Mine.” The
number was featured last week at
the local house by Herb Kern
and his orchestra, with Broadbent
on the Wurlitzer.
ORGANISTS SHIFTED
she mis s. o:s
SEATTLE, Jan. 30. — Continuing
their struggle with John Dariz, lo-
cal non-union theatre magnate,
Local 154, Operators’ Union, re-
port progress in their efforts to
enlighten the public on the sit-
uation.
The State of Washington Su-
preme Court has recently decided
in Danz’ favor on the suit to for-
bid pickets patrolling the sidewalks
near the Columbia and Winter
Garden Theatres, which Danz ac-
quired from Universal last spring.
Danz has not been so successful in
keeping the sign carriers from the
walks adjacent to the Colonial
and Capitol Theatres, the men be-
ing permitted to walk a heat pro-
viding they do not come within
100 feet of either entrance of either
theatre.
James McNabb, business agent
of the Operators, and Jay G.
Brown, business agent of the local
theatrical federation, firmly be-
lieve that the concerted effort of
organized labor is having its ef-
fect on Danz’ boxoffices. Opinion
around town among the trade and
public is divided on this situation,
with the majority possibly agree-
ing that, should Danz cease his
seven-year battle with the labor
unions, his b. o.’s would take a
nice spurt.
Under existing conditions at the
Danz houses, all men work seven-
day weeks and shifts that average
about 20 per cent more time than
the union allows, with the pay
check declared to take an even
greater per cent cut.
GREEN AND STEPT SELL
PUBLISHING BUSINESS
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
In a shifting of Fox West Coast
organists, C. Sharpe Minor comes
into Loew’s Warfield soon from
San Diego. He will be featured
in daily concerts. Jamie Erickson
moves from the Fox Senator in
Sacramento to the California in
San Diego, with no definite suc-
cessor named for the Sacramento
job.
TO PLAY CRUISES
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
Lou Miller and his band have
been signed for the S. S. Dorothy
Alexander’s fortnightly cruises to
Mexico the first of which begins
February 2. Raquel Torres, pic-
ture player, will act as hostess.
Miller’s organization formerly was
at Tahoe Tavern and the Apollo
Cafe.
QUILLAN TO START
Eddie Quillan was due to get
into production this week on his
next for Pathe, an original by
Tay Garnett titled “Great Guns.”
Jimmie Gleason and Garnett did
the dialogue and the latter will
direct. It is a western comedy,
with Eddie Quillan being the main
laugh-getter in the role of a dude
who goes West to -be a cowboy.
Green and Stept. music pub-
lishers, sold out their interests
this week to De Sylva, Brown
and Henderson. Billy Burton, who
was local representative for Green
and Stept, is out, but no other
changes have been announced.
ARNHEIM ON AIR
Gus Arnheim, whose jazz band
was a former favorite in Los An-
geles, goes on the air regularly
beginning next week over KFWB.
MILTON CHANTING
During the three-week run of
“The Love Parade,” Milton Charles
is using Robbins’ “Chant of the
Jungle” as his organ solo.
BIG STAGE NEARLY DONE
Radio Pictures’ big new sound
stage, the largest in existence, will
be in operation within the next
thirty days. The building is
500x150 feet on the ground and
five stories high. Four motion
picture companies can work there
at one time.
GAYLORD CARTER
UNITED ARTISTS
LOS ANGELES
(Reviewed Jan. 26)
Gaylord Carter, in as the new
featured organist after two years
as relief organist at the Paramount
Theatre, again demonstrated that
he is a real student of the organ.
He presented the numbers from
“The Love Parade,” closing with
accompaniment to Jeanette Mc-
Donald’s record of “Dream Lover.”
Although buried in the pit till
now, he showed ability to meet
an audience with poise and per-
sonality, and sold himself for good
returns.
Carter looks set for a good run.
Woody.
E
AGAINST IB
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
After waiting several weeks for
the American Society of Authors
and_ Composers to take action
against the sale of a bootleg mu-
sic , sheet called “Songland Her-
ald” on San Francisco streets, lo-
cal music representatives, acting
upon authority of their eastern of-
fices, are proceeding legally to
halt the peddling.
An injunction is being sought in
local courts to prohibit sale of the
sheets, music men claiming it to
be a violation of the copyright
law. Sheet music sales fn stores
here, they claim, has dropped off
to a considerable degree as a re-
sult of this new and heavy com-
petition.
EGGERT DEAD IN CRASH
- Jimmie Eggert, well known
around the music offices in Chi-
cago, . was instantly killed this
week in an airplane crash at Kan-
sas City. Eggert was making a
business trip from Wichita to
Kansas City when the plane
crashed just before making its
landing. Eggert was Chicago of-
fice manager for the firm of Ager,
Yellen and Bornstein, music' pub-
lishers.
PLUGGING IN S. F.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Tubby Garron representing Sant-
ly Bros., and Bobby Gross repre-
senting Remick, are in town this
week plugging their firm num-
bers.
IT’S A HIT!
“I MISS YOU”
(When the Day Is Done)
Slow Fox Trot
AMERICAN MUSIC CO.
KEESS BLDG., SAN FEANCISCO
OWEN
FALLON
AND HIS
CALIFORNIANS
NOW IN SECOND
YEAR
AT
WILSON'S
BALLROOM
(Formerly Cinderella Roof)
LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
Hear Our Latest Recordings
“Shanghai Rose” and “Till I Kissed You”
Phone Your Favorite Radio Station
During the Recording Periods
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE THIRTEEN'
REVIEWS
COMMENT
MADIOLAJVD
By FRED YEATES
CHATTER
NEWS
BIS POPULARITY
FOR FILM PEOPLE
That the nation likes to listen
to film people is proven by the
tremendous audience attracted by
the “Voices of Filmland’’ origi-
nating in Hollywood studios every
Monday and released over the
Columbia network. It is said to
be the biggest attraction that has
ever been produced on the Paci-
fic Coast for continent-wide air
consumption.
The Don Lee Filmland Or-
chestra under Raymond Paige,
and Earl Burtnett’s dance band
and vocal trio furnish the musical
setting.
Billboard advertising all over
the country directed initial atten-
tion to the feature, and it is stated
that this is the first national ad-
vertising campaign ever launched
in which radio has been the cen-
tral attraction instead of a sup-
plementary advertising stunt.
He’s Got a
FanLikeNo
Other Could Be
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
There have been fan letters and
fan letters but the brass medal for
the strangest one goes to Eddie
Holden who, during working hours
is “Frank Watanabe” over KFRC
of the , Don Lee and Columbia
chain.
In Eddie’s mail the other day
there came a letter signed by
“Midnight” who, according to the
letter, is a jet black dog owned
by a local listener-in.
Every Tuesday, Thursday and
Saturday at 10 p. m. when Wa-
tanabe comes on the air, “Mid-
night” stands alert before the
loudspeaker waiting for his favor-
ite. When Watanabe’s Japanese
brogue is heard the dog pricks up
his ears, wags his tail and listens
intently.
And no other radio entertainer
will do.
MIKE FASHION SHOW
Hollywood film fashions are to
be broadcast every Wednesday
evening over KHJ, and are to be
described from actual gowns mod-
elled in the same studio. Public
is invited to the studio for an eye-
full if an earfull is not enough.
MERRYMAKERS SOLD
“The Merrymakers,” hour of va-
riety originated and developed by
the KHJ staff as an experiment,
has been sold to a gasoline com-
pany and is set as a weekly Pacific
Coast broadcast for a year.
HERB
KERN
Organist- Master of Ceremonies
FOX WEST COAST
Long Beach, Calif,
WM. (Billy) KNOX
SOLO ORGANIST
Fox Oakland Theatre
. — J>
FRANK
HIPSLEY
And His
Personality Band
Balconades Ballroom
San Francisco
Jay
drower
Master-of-Ceremonies
FOX EL CAPITAN
San Francisco
Pickups &
Viewpoint
Broadcast executives are invited
to study our cross-section of radio-
land this week, taken last Satur-
day afternoon. It provides food
for a lot of thought on the part
of those who are really anxious to
increase their audiences. Do the
programs invite the attention of
workers who may want to sit
around the house on their Satur-
day afternoon holiday? Are they
of a quality to sell advertisers on
the attention-holding potency of
radio? Would you listen to them
yourselves?
One might go on asking ques-
tions, but the answer would be
the same in ev.ery case. And no-
body needs to be told what that
answer is.
* * *
The Paramount - Publix hour
broadcast over the Columbia net-
work every Saturday night is noth-
ing but a stage revue, using the
stage and pit talent of the Para-
mount Theatre in New York, and
very little is done to promte the
picture angle or the all-talk policy
of the Publix houses. It makes
one wonder if there is anything in
the idea that the broadcast is used
as a thermometer to determine just
how much the public cares for that
kind of entertainment, conclusions
to be used in deciding whether or
not to go heavier on stage shows
in their theatres.
* * *
Lew Cody spilled himself all
over the ether on last week’s M-
G-M hour, reciting the poem
“Fleurette.” His voice is not beau-
tiful in quality, but he certainly
went heavy on the histrionics.
* * *
Lionel Barrymore broadcast an
appeal for a ten-year-old boy with
a perfect English accent for a role
in a Dickens picture, “Oliver
Twist,” now casting, but so far
the right one has not appeared.
There are millions of actors in
Hollywood, except the ones they
want.
* * st
Oscar Strauss arrived in New
York Sunday morning and was
shoved on the NBC program of
the Atwater Kent Co. that even-
ing. His remarks were interest-
ing. He said he had come to this
country to make talking pictures
and was happy to appear on the
radio, as they were practically the
same thing, many of them being
glad to appear on radio programs
for the mike experience, and many
radio artists have talking pictures
in the back of their minds.
* * *
The Philco hour of last Thurs-
day featured Belle Baker. Pier
voice miked well, especially when
she talked her lyrics. She sang
“Old-Fashioned Lady” and “Have
a Little Faith In Me,” said she
just loved her radio audience, and
plugged for her picture “The Song
of Love.” But it was stage stuff
and had little appeal for listeners
to whom her name meant nothing.
AN EGOTIST
is a person who cannot
make his “I’s” behave. I
am no egotist but never-
theless insist that my
services on a picture are
a definite economy,
whether they be utilized
on plot construction,
comedy relief or dia-
logue.
JAMES MADISON
(An Author and a Showman)
465 South Detroit St.
Los Angeles
(Phone ORegon 9407)
“Please tell the world we need
no more uke players, pianists, so-
pranos, tenors or juveniles,” says
Florence Israel, program arranger
for KFWB, “but we do want
something unusual.
“We give auditions every Thurs-
day afternoon from two to four,
putting them on our monitor sys-
tem, and no previous appoint-
ments are necessary. Performers
who have something novel will be
heartily welcomed.”
IS MUSICAL DIRECTOR
LONG BEACH, Cal., Jan. 30.—
Dick Dixon, formerly organist at
the Capitol Theatre, has been ap-
pointed musical director of KGER
along with being featured daily on
the studio organ. Dick has se-
cured several musical combina-
tions and soloists for the air and
if you should be an artist or want ]
radio work get in touch with Dick
Dixon. He’s looking for talent.
INVENTS BEAT SCRIBES
According to technicians at KFI
and KECA, it is a waste of time
for control men to read technical
publications. Developments in im-
provements and new gadgets come
so fast, they say, that publications
cannot keep up with them, and
they believe it will be five years
before they can hope to cover the
field and catch up.
BIG DOUGH IN KIDS
Baron Keyes, who broadcasts a
children’s program from KFI daily,
is reported about to sign a new
contract with his sponsor at a sal-
ary of $25,000 a year.
On The Air
Happenings
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 29.—
KFRC has many outstanding mike
artists and one of its superior or-
ganizations is the Modern Melo-
dists, an excellent musical group
directed by Mahlon Merrick. In
their few short months of exist-
ence this combination has built
up nicely with its symphonic ar-
rangements of popular hits. And
while it hardly seems enough, the
organization has among its mem-
bers seven arrangers, all of whom
contribute to the group.
Personnel includes Merrick, di-
rector; Walter Kelsey, violin and
voice; A1 Zohn, trumpet; Richard
McAffery, trumpet; Joe Zohn,
trombone; Earl Eastman, Mickey
Gillette and Meriam Worthington,
reeds; Ray Jarnigan, piano; Tony
Freeman, bass; Paul Worthington,
banjo, and Bill Ames, drums.
* * *
To its daily schedule N. B. C.
has added “Meet the Folks,” a
program that is an innovation in
radio entertainment. Through KGO
listeners-in are introduced to mem-
bers of the artist staff daily ex-
cept Sunday from 9 to 9:30, with
Madonna Todd, of the N. B. C.
publicity department, interviewing
the artists.
* * *
In a short time Cotton Bond
has risen from the rank of a new-
comer to KFRC to a valuable
member of the artists’ staff, his
latest achievement coming this
week when the Custo company se-
lected him for their programs
over that station. Bond, with an
assisting group of artists, will be
heard Friday afternoons between
5:30 and 6.
* * *
Oh, Fred Yeates! You said
something on your page last week
about believing Doby and Lou to
be in San Francisco. Well, you
were right. They blew in from
Seattle recently and have been do-
ing some nice work at KjFRC.
* * *
Max Dolin, musical director on
the coast for National Broadcast-
ing Co., is featuring on his pro-
grams a new instrument, the
Theremin, played by simply mov-
ing the hands in front of two
metal antennae protruding from a
wooden cabinet. One of these
antennae controls tone, the other,
volume.
Program
Reviews
CROSS-SECTIONING
RADIOLAND
THUMBNAIL REVIEWS
LOS ANGELES
January 25
KMIC (12:50 p. m.) Hoarse
voiced man answering questions
about the future and soliciting $2
for forecast. Followed by dance
record program.
KGER (.1:10 p. m.) Dance rec-
ords.
KFOX (1:30 p. m.) Cheerio
Boys. This duo good entertain-
ers of pop variety. Can sell a
song. Plugging furniture store.
Followed by Tom Mitchell sing-
ing pop numbers. He plugs a
healing institute and is heard over
several stations. Is a consonant
singer.
KGFJ (2:00 p. m.) Dance mu-
sic remote from the Orange Grove
Cafe, Carol Londoner’s Orchestra.
Announcements plug night show.
KNX (2:30 p. m.) Regular Sat-
urday afternoon feature, broadcast-
ing complete opera from records,
Eddie Albright telling the story
between numbers. “Die Walkure”
this time; great entertainment and
has big audience. Always seem
to be noises from this station,
sometimes nerve-wracking.
KFVD (4:45 p. m.) Dance rec-
ords. Plugging radio store.
KFWB (4:50 p. m.) Charlie
Davis singing pop songs, uke ac-
companiment. Even if the voice
js not of conspicuous quality his
words can be heard; not unpleas-
ing. Ad plug for a gland food.
Another ad plug for restaurant.
Boswell Sisters, harmonizers. Girl
carrying melody too strident, oth-
ers can hardly be heard. One
song, then three more ad plugs,
one for furniture store, one for
“Maker of successful men and wo-
men,” then one for a finance com-
pany selling repossessed cars.
Rustling of announcer’s copy can
be plainly heard.
KFQZ (5:05 p. m. A woman
interpreting vibrations and fore-
casting events for inquiriers. Or-
gan music background.
KELW (5:15 p. m.-) Man talk-
ing through his nose about as-
trology, answering questions and
selling an astronomical hour clock.
Also bawling out what he called
“hooey artists with Oriental
names.”
KMTR (5:30 p. m.) Announcer
telling of ginger ale label contest,
then plugging fried chicken place.
Record, “Who,” then ad plug
about blankets and another ad
about free airplane rides.
KECA (5:45 p. m.) “Mister”
Williams in piano selections,
“Don’t Want Your Kisses,” “Year
From Today,” “Song I Love” and
“Aren’t We All?” Good average,
and sounded better than with a
poor voice. If you like it at this
time of day it takes the place of
daughter playing in the parlor
while mamma gets supper.
KHJ (6 p. m.) “Nit-Wits” pro-
gram over CBS from New York.
Thirty minutes of goofy, burlesque
by characters known as Gabriel,
WEEKLY FROLIC 10
BE KFWB FEATURE
A weekly radio frolic is to be
featured by KFWB in the near
future.
The Jambonees, Merrymakers,
Lion Tamers, and so on have
rushed into enormous popularity
with radio listeners, and the War-
ner station is the newest to go
after their share of this audience.
The program is to include gags,
skits and music, planned to a
continuity, and a contest will be
held for a suitable name, with
cash prizes as an inducement.
Gets Short
History of
These U. S.s
Taking his cue from Calvin
Coolidge’s assignment to write a
history of the United States in
500 words, Jose Rodriguez has
asked KFI listeners to try their
hands at the pastime.
The first received left 486 words
unused. Grafton C. Allen, of Los
Angeles, contributed th’e follow-
ing:
“Conceived in rebellion; pre-
served by the brotherhood of
man; destroyed by abuse of pow-
er.”
Which does not say much for
the brotherhood of man.
Maurice Chevalier is billed for
radio appearance over the Don
Lee chain, February 2, 7:30 to
8:30 p. m.
Aphrodite-Godiva, Lord Ashcart,
Mocha and Madame Odle-de-Pok-
er, with Professor Succotash m.
c.’ing. Subjects treated, “Making
the Arm More Attractiv e,”
“Three Musketeers” and “The
Theatre in 1950.” Just goofy and
too exaggerated to be humorous
at first hearing; like a comic strip,
something to be followed from
week to week. Ad plug was sell-
ing radio artists for personal ap-
pearances.
KFI (6:30 p. m.) Walter Dam-
rosch and Orchestra on NBC from
N. Y. Up to usual high standard,
classic music. Damrosch’s com-
ments always most interesting and
well presented.
TUNE IN ON
DUD
WILLIAMSON
MASTER OF CEREMONIES
and STAFF ARTIST
KYA SAN FRANCISCO
RUSS
COLLER
And His
CELLAR SHAKERS
Radio Station
KFWB
FOX WEST COAST THEATRES
PRESENT
PETER BRESCIA
AND HIS
CONCERT ORCHESTRA
FOX T. & D. THEATRE
OAKLAND, CALIF.
WALTER KRAUSGRILL
AND HIS MUSIC
EL PATIO BALLROOM MARKET AT VAN NESS
SAN FRANCISCO
PETER PAUL LYONS
AND HIS CONCERT ORCHESTRA
LOEW’S WARFIELD SAN FRANCISCO
PAGE FOURTEEN
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
Vaudeville and ^Presentations
R-K-0 ORPHEUM
SEATTLE
(Reviewed Jan. 25)
Here is a pip of an all-round
vaudeville bill, with the next-to-
shut act sharing honors with the
opener for the heavy hand music
that each act grabbed off at the
opening show.
The Alexander Sisters, Ann,
Gertrude and Rose, started things
in the opening spot. Ann and
Gertrude did their Apache and
Russian numbers in whirlwind
style with Rose clicking on violin
and solo dance work. The trio
opened and closed w-ith as neat a
dance offering that’s been seen
here for a little while. The act
has improved considerably since
playing Pan and merits a better
spot.
Ken Christy, assisted by Bar-
bara Bronell, Helen Huntington
and an unbilled bell-hop, offered
a domestic comedy skit that had
plenty of laughs to it. They threw
in a little hoofing that landed
nicely.
Healey and Cross, in the trey
spot, knocked ’em over with their
harmony songs, with Healy at the
piano. Here is a sweet musical
bit, and the boys can hold their
places with the rest of ’em.
The next-to-shut act had Jesse
Block and Eve Sully billed. Due
to the fact that the former’s moth-
er died a few days ago, Allen
Cross of the previous act stepped
to the breach and with A1 Boas-
berg’s material and the heavy as-
sistance of Eve Sully, brought out
belly-laughs in rapid succession.
Boasberg can take a bow together
with the clever pair, for this house
hasn’t laughed as much since Ol-
sen and Johnson were here and in
some cases more. Put this one in
next-to-shut any place.
Howard’s Shetland ponies and
dogs closed the bill in fine style.
Tinj' Burnett and his Orchestra,
with the able assistance of Myrtle
Strong at the organ, preceded the
vaude with selections from the
next opus, “Hit the Deck.” This
gang of syncopaters got their usual
big hand.
Bebe Daniels’ “Love Comes
Along” was the opus, and had ’em
standing in line for the early show.
Jean.
RKO
LOS ANGELES
(Reviewed Jan. 24)
Vaude bills here have been above
par for the past two weeks, and
the current bill of five acts will
contribute more prestige and ac-
cordingly pull in future dollars
quicker to this house.
Tillis and LaRue opened. Flash
act, and better than good. Five
dancing cuties and okay. Billed
team scored nicely with some well-
delivered dancing.
Fritz and Jean Hubert in deuce
spot landed in double forte style.
It’s a sure antidote for the Vol-
stead Blues plus a flock of laughs.
Curly Burns offered a skit titled
“Chicago” and clicked in cyclonic
tempo. The black-face comic was
capably assisted by a duo of as-
sistants and his laugh vehicle is
just that.
Eddie Pardo, delineator of songs
and some comedy, had everything
his own way and could have stayed
longer. A good bet on any bill.
Beehee and Rubyette Company
sold their strength and agility
wares for full value. A fitting
closer.
“Dance Hall” (Radio Pictures)
on the screen.
Business excellent as is consis-
tently the case.
Eddie Meredith.
CONTRACT FOR SPARKS
Ned Sparks has been signed to
a long-term contract by Radio
Pictures.
CHINESE THEATRE
HOLLYWOOD
(Reviewed Jan. 25)
A1 Norman steps out of the
Abe Lyman Orchestra with a
limber-leg dance to offer which is
great stuff, and thereby A1 saves
the whole proceedings, entitled
“The Kit Kat Club,” from being
just another jazz band program
without an outstanding moment.
The girl dancer with the outfit,
Lucille Page, is both good and
with some new steps, rating, well
above average, but without Al’s
limber-leg stuff she alone wouldn’t
pull it up above a routine affair.
One thing is certain, the con-
clusion being warranted by the
applause given Norman and Miss
Page, and that is that the pic-
ture audiences are hungry for
stage entertainment of the right
sort. These two took very nice
hands indeed, and lesser but still
warm applause was accorded other
interpolated solos and duets. The
band numbers were the least en-
thusiastically received of all the
offerings.
The curtain went up on the one
setting of the presentation, a very
neatly arranged black and white
set, with the not uncustomary
staircases to right and left. Open-
ing number was “Chant of the
Jungle” with Phil Neeley, a mem-
ber of the band, singing a chorus
of it through a megaphone.
Ted and Jack Dale, also from
among the band boys, then did a
xylophone and p’iano duet, follow-
ing it up with the piano and a
vocal rendition of “That’s Her
Now.” Their comedy was not
overdone and they rated the time
given them.
Lucille Page then came on for
her first number, arrayed in a cos-
tume, the what-there-was-of-it be-
ing silver. Pretty and shapely,
Miss Page had on tap some con-
trolled kicks and acrobatic stunts
which had a delightful element of
newness and were well sold, mer-
iting her a good hand.
Abe Lyman then took the spot-
light by doing a drum number
with the piano for accompaniment.
Then came the highlight of the
stage show, A1 Norman’s limber-
leg dance. This boy has a per-
sonality which he sells admirably,
and the unaffected and easy man-
ner in which he offers the ludi-
crous moments of his dance, com-
bined with real ability, mark him
for a bet sure to please. The cus-
tomers demanded and got an en-
core and would have liked more.
Phil Neeley followed, singing
“Love, Your Spell Is Every-
where” in a nice baritone, and
Miss Page came back in Dutch
pantaloons and waist and with
some more new steps. There were
GEORGE and FLORENCE
BALLET MASTER and MISTRESS
Australia’s Largest Theatre
— THE STATE, SYDNEY—
PRODUCING WEEKLY CHANGE NOW 34TH WEEK
And Still Going Strong
Address — State Theatre, Sydney, N. S. W., Australia
PHIL SYLVIA
WHITE and NOIR
TENOR SOPRANO
Booked Solid Over R-K-O Circuit In “Songs and Steps”
some nifties among them, and she
deservedly took a good hand at
the conclusion as well as applause
moments along the route.
Finale was another fast number
by the band, with individual mem-
bers of the group interpolating
featured moments. The best of
these were the playing of two
clarinets by one member, and the
old standby blatancy of the trom-
bone. Abe Lyman apparently has
improved in the art of catching
his tossed-about drumsticks since
he was at the Uptown here, miss-
ing only every once and awhile
at this matinee instead of constant-
ly, as used to be the case.
There is one extremely weak
point about the presentation, and
that is the lack of a master-of-
ceremonies. Such a functionary,
brightening up as he does what
otherwise develops into a mere rou-
tine of offerings, is badly missed,
and the chill with which he house
received the orchestrations was due
no doubt in part to this fact. The
lack was especially noticeable
without a leader in front upon
whom one’s eyes could be cen-
tered during the numbers, as the
gesticulations of such an individ-
ual always relieve what otherwise
becomes a matter for restlessness.
A cracking good m. c. with a
pleasing personality and a gift of
humor, would do much to build
up this outfit.
The feature picture was M-G-M’s
“The Rogue Song,” starring ve-
hicle for Lawrence Tibbett, and
the house was capacity, as has
been the case since its opening and
as, so it looks, will be the case
for some time to come.
A. H. F.
LOEW’S STATE
LOS ANGELES
(Reviewed Jan. 24)
The “Trees Idea” used the well
known musical composition of
that name for its theme, and
opened in one before a black
drop, the center figure of which
was a luminous tree. On each
side were panels which were un-
veiled at intervals to show various
varieties of trees.
The band was in the pit, under
the baton of m. c. Georgie Stoll.
Georgie, however, made no an-
nouncements in this “Idea” except
for his own specialty. Acting as
a sort of non-speaking m. c. was
Frieda Sullivan, costumed as a
woodsprite, carrying bow-and-ar-
row. She whistled bird-calls.
Ted Reicard, tenor, and Christel
LeVine, soprano, registered good
voices and personality when they
appeared to sing the themie. The
panels revealed “Shade of the Old
Apple Tree,” with a couple dressed
1900 style; a banana tree with a
pair of hula dancers, one of whom
faw down at this show; a cocoanut
palm with that ace adagio pair
Mavis and Ted, and “Trail of the
Lonesome Pine,” with a pair of
girls dressed mountaineer. Then
came the girls of the line in a
flash number, costumed in palm
headdress and bark tights.
Specialty interlude presented
Jimmy Fawcett, who hoofed a fast
stepping acrobatic routine that won
hearty applause, then followed
Walter Brower in his perennial
dance number. He does it well,
but it’s about time he developed
a new routine.
Georgie Stoll then stepped up on
stage with his violin, taking with
him his drummer, Lou Erickson;
his bass violinist, Vic Delorey, and
his pianist, Walter Ruick. They
dished up “’Tain’t No Sin” and
“Love, Your Spell Is Every-
where,” vocalizing choruses. They
won a great hand.
Next scene was the land of
gnomes, butterflies and birds. A
pair of girls came on with a big
Fairy Tales book, delivering a tap
routine, then gave way to the line,
which dazzled the fern part of the
audience in rose-colored costumes.
They gave a pleasing, well-bal-
anced routine of formations.
Next, Terrell and Hanley in
their dumb comedy-acro act,
(Continued on Page 15)
PAUL MALL
“HOT DOMINOES” Idea
Elsinore Theatre, Salem, Ore.
Thanks to Fanchon and Marco
SYLVIA DOREE
Featured in
Fanchon and Marco’s
“JAZZ TEMPLE IDEA”
Tabor Grand, Denver, Colo.
MURIEL
STRYKER
Fanchon and Marco’s
DESERT IDEA
TOOTS NOVELLO
Fanchon and Marco’s
“Overtures” Idea
Direction W m. Morris
FANCHON AND MARCO
PRESENT
EULA BURROFF BOB
Featured in “Eyes” Idea
Loew’s State, Los Angeles,
This Week
LOUISE MANNING
THE VERSATILITY GIRL
“OVERTURE” IDEA
THIS WEEK FOX THEATRE, SAN FRANCISCO
THANKS TO FANCHON AND MARCO
ARTISTIC SCENIC ADVERTISING CURTAINS
BY FAR THE BEST IN AMERICA— CURTAIN PRIVILEGES BOUGHT FOR CASH OR SCENERY
1215 BATES AVE., HOLLYWOOD, CALIF. Phone OLympia 2914 CHAS. F. THOMPSON SCENIC CO.
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
PAGE FIFTEEN
RADIO-
KEITH-
ORPHEUM
CIRCUIT
OR THEATRES
VAUDEVILLE
EXCHANGE
General Booking
Offices
PALACE THEATRE
BUILDING
166-i Broadway
RKO FILM
BOOKING
CORP.
General Booking
Offices
1560 Broadway
NEW YORK
CORPORATION
1560-1564 Broadway, New York
Telephone Exchange: Bryant 9300
Cable Address: ‘ 'RADIOKBITH”
RKO
PRODUCTIONS
Inc.
Producers and
Distributors of
RADIO
PICTURES
LAUNCHING
AN ERA OF
ELECTRICAL
ENTERTAINMENT
1660 Broadway
New York
(Continued from Page 14)
scoring big in the laugh percent-
ages; a skillful, well-oiled routine.
Nayon’s Birds, a performing
parrot act, came next, in a tropic
woodland setting. A gorgeous
feathered display of numerous
birds, many of which performed
very clever tricks. The customers
liked it.
Opening the finale, the girls of
the line came on in pastel shaded
chiffon costumes, then everybody
on, many of the girls going up
ropes, taking parrots up, Mavis
and Ted making adagio center
stage, all for a good flash finale.
The picture was M-G-M’s 1929
Hollywood Rveu.e
FIFTH AVENUE
SEATTLE
(Reviewed Jan. 23)
The “Let’s Pretend Idea” was a
weak follow-up to the gorgeous
“Black and Gold Idea” seen here
last week. It started out like a
million, with a finale that had less
kick to it than the worst of ’em.
The opening scene, a huge
pumpkin with the orchestra seated
in the center and 12 line girls
with pumpkin heads doing the
usual routine that was highlighted
when Rita Lane, a little blonde
soprano, put the necessary kick
into the theme number “Let’s
Pretend.”
George Green, colored skate
artist, although not fitting in with
the Idea in any way, shape, or
form, more than overstayed his
limit on the skates, but neverthe-
less, to his credit, got a deservedly
good hand. Shorten this up with
less repeats and he’d go even bet-
ter.
A couple of hoofers, George
Tillyou and George Rogers, had a
comedy dance offering that could
have been cut short to better ad-
vantage. This one dragged con-
siderably due to its length, and
for no reason whatsoever Ed
Chaney, co-producer of the idea,
also did some hoofing.
The girls did a semi-Tiller
number that registered fair and
they were entitled to what they
got.
The outstanding bits on the bill
was Rita Lane’s singing and Flor-
ence Forman’s high kicking.
A couple of the line girls in a
specialty acted like they hated each
other, which offset their otherwise
fair offering. This one needs
jerking up badly before it hits
east, with lots of rehearsal slated
for the line. At present it’s pretty
weak.
Peabody started out early with
his specialty, doing a violin solo
with one of the boys at the piano,
playing and singing Berlin’s
"Love,” theme song of “The Tres-
passer,” topping it off with “Rio
Rita” in which Joe Woodbury,
Billy Barrett and Ralph Meyer
joined together in a novelty quin-
tette of strings and song to a nice
response. ,
Eddie fitted in later with his
banjo specialties using “I’m A
Dreamer,” “Talking Picture of
You” and “Sunny Side Up,”
starting these off with the sextette
from “Lucia.”
Peabody’s banjo work was the
outstanding offering of the presen-
tation and naturally garnered the
most applause.
Irrespective of the quality and
length of the stage, offering, the
public laid their dough on the line
to see and hear Peabody smack
the old banjo. It’s what they
come to see and hear and if they
don’t get it, or enough of it, they
go out mumbling.
They want anywhere from eight
to ten numbers from Peabody in-
cluding the “St. Louis Blues,” but
he’s finally got ’em to lay off the
latter, for a while anyway, but
they’ve got to have plenty banjo,
and whoever is at fault can take
this tip if Peabody’s stay here is
to be as successful as his first
week.
The screen feature was “The
Bishop Murder Case.”
Jean.
KEN DAILEY WEDS
Ken Dailey, general Jnanager for
the Bert Levey offices, was mar-
ried Thursday, January 23, to Ara-
belle Wiles, a non-professional.
The ceremony took place in the
Saint Augustine Church. Dailey
is 35 years old and his bride 26.
The wedding culminated a romance
of two years.
NANCY DUE BACK
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 30.—
Nancy Carroll, Paramount star,
is expected here this week on a
return voyage from Honolulu
where she has been vacationing
with her husband. Jack Kirkland.
Kirkland returned several days
ago.
SUPPORTING DIX
Henry Armetta, Italian actor
with 16 years’ film experience,
will enact a supporting role in
Richard Dix’s second radio star-
ring vehicle, “I Love You.”
Meiklejohn Bros.
ASSOCIATED VAUDEVILLE MANAGERS
Fourth Floor, Spreckels Bldg.
Phones: 714 So. Hill St.
TRinity 2217, TRinity 2218 LOS ANGELES
VAUDEVILLE AND PICTURE HOUSE
ENGAGEMENTS AVAILABLE
FOR STANDARD ACTS
WANTED — Acts Suitable for Vaudeville, Picture
House Presentations, Clubs and Talkies
THEATRICAL
AGENCY
AL WAGER
(Artists’ Representative)
221 LOEW’S STATE BLDG., LOS ANGELES, CALIF.
Phone: VAndike 3619
‘LOVE PARADE’
(Continued from Page 4)
lyrics.
The story, which is quite ade-
quate for operetta purposes, was
by Ernst Vadja, with the libretto
by Guy Bolton.
CASTING DIRECTORS’
VIEWPOINT: Maurice Cheva-
lier has added to his usual fern
appeal a chance to display himself
in various uniforms, and to put
across his personality in several
sequences well thought out to this
purpose. All of which should
please his fans.
Jeannette MacDonald is a most
pleasing leading lady for him, be-
ing pretty, appealing, convincing
and a real singer.
Lupino Lane contributes no
small share of the comedy, his al-
lotment being the lower portion of
it, and his comedy falling prowess
comes in for good response.
Opposite him is Lillian Roth,
who does her part in good stand-
ardized stage fashion.
There is a Greek chorus of cabi-
net ministers, among them being
Lionel Belmore, Eugene Pallette
and Albert Roccardi.
Edgar Norton is well cast as the
chamberlain.
DANCE HALL’
(Continued from Page 4)
it is to be believed that he would
have had some touching sequences
to his credit.
Jane Murfin and J. Walter Ru-
ben did the scenario and dialogue.
CASTING DIRECTORS’
VIEWPOINT: Arthur Lake did
the same as he always does, un-
pleasantly-pitched voice and all.
Not so good.
Olive Borden’s voice registers
clearly, but her performance was
one of those one-two-three emote
procedures.
Joe Cawthorn, if any one doesn’t
happen to know it, is a comedian
that the talkies can use as often
as they want without fear of over-
doing it. Into the frequently dull
footage of this picture he burst
like Old Dutch Cleanser to
brighten and sparkle. The picture
was all his.
Margaret Seddon was natural-
ness itself in the mother role, and
easily took credit for bringing to
herself the major portion of the
audience’s sympathy.
Ralph Emerson’s recitation of
lines was just recitation, but ndt
nearly so much so as that of
Helen Kaiser, who was not un-
reminiscent of a Saturday night’s
entertainment at the little Red
Schoolhouse.
Lee Moran was well cast as a
soda-jerker, and completing the
cast were Tom O’Brien, Natalie
Joyce and Patricia Caron.
‘ROGUE SONG’
(Continued from Page 4)
EXHIBITORS’ VIEWPOINT:
If you have any ability whatso-
ever at exploitation, this is a sure-
fire cooking for any first run
house, either for a run or for a
week or two. All you have to
sell is Tibbett’s voice and the new
type of screen entertainment for
the opening shows, and word-of-
mouth should do the rest.
PRODUCERS’ VIEWPOINT:
Lionel Barrymore has scored a
distinct triumph in the direction
of this picture. His .neat balanc-
ing of the Tibbett voice with the
story interest is splendid, and
many of the scenes have been han-
HARRY WEBER - SIMON AGENCY
PALACE THEATRE BUILDING, NEW YORK CITY
MANAGING ONLY THE BEST
IN
VAUDEVILLE and PICTURES
HOLLYWOOD OFFICE
BANK OF HOLLYWOOD BUILDING
Corner Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street
HO. 2181— Telephones— HO. 2182
HARRY WEBER
died in a manner which keeps in-
terest moving at a rate far better
than, it is to be guessed, was in-
dicated by the script.
Other credits are “Based upon
the operetta ‘Gypsy Love' by
Franz Lehar, Dr. A. M. Willner
and Robert Bodansky; Story l)y
Frances Marion and John Colton;
Suggested by Wells Root; Music
by Franz Lehar and Herbert
Stothart; Lyrics by Clifford
Grey.”
CASTING DIRECTORS’
VIEWPOINT: Lawrence Tib-
bett has firmly taken his place as
a screen star, so long as music
lasts at the least, and possibly
much longer.
Catherine Dale Owen, in the
fern lead opposite him, is again in
a part which calls for iciness of
manner and considerable hauteur.
In these roles she is consistently
in character and excellent. It
would be interesting, however, to
see her for once in a more emo-
tional part, just to see what she
could do with it.
Next to Tibbett’s acting, the
neatest work is done by Florence
Lake. The part, that of the
rogue’s sister, is very small in
footage, comparatively speaking,
being only one sequence of dis-
tress at her betrayal, and another
one of her death. But it stands
out.
Judith Bosseli is exceptionally
well cast as a haughty countess;
Ulrich Haupt plays a short but ac-
ceptable heavy; and Elsa Alsen
takes fullest advantage of the lim-
ited opportunities of a mother role.
Satisfactorily doing other minor
parts are Nance O’Neil, Lionel
Belmore, Wallace MacDonald,
Kate Price, H. A. Morgan, Burr
Macintosh and James Bradbury,
i r -
Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy
have frequent cut-ins, doing the
same kind of stuff they usually
do but this time in Russian
clothes. It is not up to their av-
erage for laughs, and the casting
of this duo of ace comedians in
the picture is questionable. They
have become so firmly established
and familiar in their own two-reel,
modern-day field that their pres-
ence could not help but jerk the
audience out of the illusion of
reality whenever they appeared.
The Albertina Rasch Ballet had
a very pretty toe dance to offer,
exceedingly well shot as to angles.
CRISP WITH R-K-O
Donald Crisp has been signed
by Radio Pictures to direct “Cook-
ing Her Goose,” which will mark
the reunion of the popular silent
day team of Mary Astor and
Lloyd Hughes. William Sistrom,
who recently went from the post
of the Pathe general manager to
that of associate producer for R-
K-O, will have this as his first
supervisiorial assignment under his
new contract. Starting date is ten-
tatively set for February 12.
NEW YORKER IN “BRIDE”
Arthur Hammerstein has with-
drawn Robert Chisholm from the
cast of the New York, play, “Sweet
Adeline,” and assigned him to a
featured role in “Bride 66,” mu-
sical production which he will
make for United Artists.
PATRICK and MARSH
(AOEN0Y)
VAUDEVILLE— ORCHESTRAS
WANTED!
ACTS SUITABLE FOR PICTURE HOUSE PRESENTATION
AND CLUBS
WHITE — WIRE — CALL
807*8 Majestic Theatre Bldg., 845 South Broadway, Los Angeles
Phone TUcker 2140
Walter Trask
WANTS STANDARD ACTS and ENTERTAINERS for
THEATRES, CLUBS, LODGES and SMAROFF-TRASK
PRESENTATIONS
WALTER TRASK THEATRICAL AGENCY
1102 Commercial Exchange Bldg.
410 West Eighth Street Los Angelas
Telephone TUcker 1680
WILLS-CUNNINGHAM
Gladstone 9502
7016 Hollywood Boulevard Studio of Dancing
Professionals Taught by Professionals
Routines Created and Perfected for Single, Double and Ensemble
Dancing Acts
Walter Wills Theatrical Employment Agency
Talent Booked for Pictures, Vaudeville, Production, Clubs
Ackerman & Harris
EXECUTIVE OFFICES
THIRD FLOOR, PHELAN BLDG.
Ella Herbert Weston, Booking Manager
Market, Grant and O’FarreU Sts. SAN FRANCISCO
LOS ANGELES — 20 Film Exchange Bldg.
Washington and Vermont — Telephone: BEacon 7966
Artists and Acts Register For
Theatrical Bookings, Orchestras and
Club Entertainment
IRA F. GAY AGENCY
206 Majestic Theatre Building
845 South Broadway
FA 3421 Los Angeles
SATURDAY, FEB. 1, 1930
PAGE SIXTEEN
INSIDE FACTS OF STAGE AND SCREEN
Youngstown Vindi
ator said
“Persona
a, " e cley-
Detroit,
At the Palace, N. Y.,
Zits said — “Carries all
the comedy and puts a
kick into the * show
where it needs it !’’
“Billboard” skid —
“Stands out as the
strongest personality.
Tough moll number is several pegs
higher than a classic.”
Variety, State Lake, Chicago
“Loop,” said — “Stood out as the in-
dividual hit of the show.”
Jean in “Inside Facts,” Seattle,
W ash., said —
“Reaped a harvest of
laughs. Her tough
number topped off, in
great shape, her clever
interpretations.”
The ORIGINAL
“BOOP-POOP-A-DOOP”
GIRL!
CHIC KENNEDY |
HEADLINING l 0 s\£ g ?Les
WEEK OF JANUARY 30th
PERSONAL DIRECTION:- JIMMY MURPHY
Scanned from the collection of
Karl Thiede
Coordinated by the
Media History Digital Library
www.mediahistoryproj ect.org